Try to hold on to you

Désolé, désolé,
Ko teriya mana diya
Désolé, a kana ma lamè
Désolé, désolé, désolé
Désolé, désolé, a kana ma lamè

Désolé, désolé compliqué
Désolé, I don't know what to say anymore
Désolé, while everyone on the move
Désolé, désolé, I'm trying to hold on to you

Désolé, désolé
Ko teriya mana diya
Désolé, a kana ma lamè
Désolé, désolé, désolé
Désolé, désolé, a kana ma lamé
Désolé
Désolé

Désolé
Désolé contraband
Désolé, c'est une longue file d'attente
Désolé, tous mes phantoms sans bleu
Désolé, désolé, I'm trying to hold on to you

Désolé (désolé, désolé, ah)
Désolé (the day I left, the day I left, ah)
Désolé (désolé, désolé, ah)
Désolé, désolé (ah, yeah, yeah)

Désolé
Désolé (désolé, désolé)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gorillaz's song Désolé express feelings of regret and remorse. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, translates to "sorry, sorry," and the verses speak of being far from home, lost and not knowing what to do. The line "contraband" suggests illicit activity and the sense of being stuck or trapped, waiting in a long queue. The use of French and an Indian language, as well as the repeated phrase "a kana ma lamè," add to the song's international flavor and sense of disorientation.

Overall, the song seems to be about feeling disconnected, both from home and from the person the singer is trying to hold onto. The repetition of "désolé" creates a somber, reflective mood, as the singer tries to make amends for something they have done or feel they have done wrong. The instrumentation, with its mix of electronic beats and acoustic instruments like the kalimba, adds to the dreamlike quality of the song, as if it is taking place in a hazy, surreal world.

Line by Line Meaning

Désolé
I'm sorry for what's happening or what I'm about to do

Désolé, contraband
I apologize for the illegal item(s) I possess

Désolé, I'm a long way from land
I apologize, I am far away from home and in a difficult situation

Désolé, I don't know what to do
I'm sorry, I'm unsure of how to handle this situation

Désolé, désolé, try to hold on to you
I apologize, I am doing my best to hold onto you despite the situation

Désolé, désolé, Ko teriya mana diya
I apologize, I know I hurt you (in Hindi)

Désolé, a kana ma lamè
I'm sorry, I'm not sure (in Bambara)

Désolé, désolé, désolé
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

Désolé compliqué
I apologize, this situation is complicated

Désolé, I don't know what to say anymore
I'm sorry, I don't have any more words for this situation

Désolé, while everyone on the move
I apologize, while everyone else is making progress, I am stuck

Désolé, désolé, I'm trying to hold on to you
I'm sorry, I am doing my best to keep you close despite the difficulties

Désolé, désolé, a kana ma lamè
I'm sorry, I'm not sure (in Bambara)

Désolé, c'est une longue file d'attente
I apologize, this is a long wait (in French)

Désolé, tous mes phantoms sans bleu
I'm sorry, all my ghosts are without a home (in French)

Désolé (désolé, désolé, ah)
I'm sorry (I'm sorry, I'm sorry, ah)

Désolé (the day I left, the day I left, ah)
I'm sorry (the day I left, the day I left, ah)

Désolé, désolé, ah
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, ah

Désolé, désolé (ah, yeah, yeah)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry (ah, yeah, yeah)

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, Fatoumata Diawara, James Ellis Ford, Remi Kabaka

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind