Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières

Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it

Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside
Whistling tunes, we're kissing baboons in the jungle
It's a knockout

If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
Games without frontiers, war without tears

Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières

Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue
They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
Hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names

Whistling tunes, we hide in the dunes by the seaside
Whistling tunes, we're kissing baboons in the jungle
It's a knockout

If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers, war without tears
Games without frontiers, war without tears

Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans frontières
Jeux sans


Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by GeoJoe1000, radio4head

Games Without Frontiers Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Games Without Frontiers song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

62 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +13
    General Comment

    For the longest time I thought Kate Bush was saying "she's so popular" instead of "jeux sans frontieres" and I couldn't figure out how it connected to the song. At least I finally figured it out lol.

    never.for.everon August 03, 2007   Link
  • +12
    General Comment

    It's an analogy of modern international relations. At the heart of it, war is just a childish game. All these little children represent the different nations among the world, and their "silly games" are just what war is. Even if looks could kill they probably will... Hiding out in treetops, whether you're "shouting out rude names", or "shooting out" bullets, it's all the same in the end.

    kupo75on January 15, 2005   Link
  • +11
    General Comment

    There are two things I want to add to this discussion: 1) The phrase "It's a knock-out!" appears – this was the British title of the (hilarious) Jeux Sans Frontiers TV show/tournament and the all-UK version as teams vied for the right to compete against our European neighbours. 2) In terms of the deeper themes in the song, the political angles are covered by some key moments in the lyrics. All the children have hills to fly their flags on, except one – whom I am guessng from their Oriental name is representative of Taiwain or some other country occupied/repressed by China (likewise Tibet)

    TheKeeperon June 13, 2006   Link
  • +7
    General Comment

    I think the hiding out in treetops and kissing baboons in the jungle is referring to geurilla warfare. The song is clearly referencing war leaders in a microcosm just like 'Lord of the Flies'

    Beastie_Boyon January 26, 2007   Link
  • +7
    General Comment

    I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought "Jeux sans frontieres" was "She's so popular". Apparently it's a common misheard lyric... and I swear it still sounds like that to me. I take French in school, even, and I still don't hear it!

    EnduringChillon May 17, 2012   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Okay, these have popped up through the thread, but here's a recap:

    • The lyrics contain "Jeux Sans Frontiers", "Games Without Frontiers", and "It's a Knockout"
    • "Jeux Sans Frontiers" is French for "Games Without Frontiers"
    • "Jeux Sans Frontiers" was also the name of a ridiculous TV game show in which teams of regular everyday people would have to complete physical tasks with novelty props and the danger of falling in tanks of water, etc.
    • The British version of that show was called "It's a Knockout".

    PG draws a clear parallel between three lines of thought

    • a ridiculous, pointless game show in which people perform physical challenges to score points and beat each other
    • Childhood games, including how kids will pick on exclude each other, making rules to say who can come in their fort, and so on
    • The international arena of politics and warfare

    Essentially, the main message is that politics and war are stupid, childish pastimes, and our world leaders should just grow up. It is peppered with references to past public figures, such as Hitler.

    My research suggests Enrico is Enrico Fermi, a key player in The Manhattan Project...?

    DexXon January 09, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Lin Tai-Yu is not some book character. He is actually Nyugen Thaiu , head of South Vietnam and the key to winning the communist victory in 1975. But he was later killed in exile, hence ''hill to fly them on apart from Lin Tai Yu''

    itsaknockouton August 03, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    can u imagine war without tears-never

    captlafl69on January 06, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Although Jeux Sans Frontiers the competition show was meant to be amusing and a good natured knock-about it often played out national rivalry as competitors from one country strained to outdo the other country (the same component of human nature that can result in war)- all while dressed in over-size ridiculous costumes (military and war leaders dress up in costumes (uniforms)). In a way it was like a bizarre art metaphor describing the dark farce that war/conflict is. War is a 'game without frontiers' - a state that unleashes behaviour that goes beyond any normal boundary to limitless extremes.

    Spuffon May 16, 2012   Link
  • +3
    Memory

    Loving this song right now. In addition to the political allegories which many other users have commented on eloquently, this song makes me think of Lord of the Flies.

    River Wolfon January 07, 2018   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.