The song "Back to the City Again" by Jean-Jacques Goldman tells the story of a person who leaves Paris in search of a different lifestyle. Initially, they are convinced that life outside the city is better, as they have read magazines and listened to their friends' opinions. They believe that the city is draining them and forcing them to consume things they don't want. Once they leave and go to the countryside, they meet people who are not like them and struggle to connect. They try a vegetarian diet for two months but eventually realize that they are not happy. Feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, the protagonist decides to return to the city. They long for the bustling atmosphere, the Coca-Cola, the neon lights, and the women who smell good with suntans. There is an excitement in being back in the city, breathing in the subway air, engaging in casual conversations, and indulging in fast food and city life. The protagonist appreciates the familiar faces and the busy environment, even the hairdressers and salespeople. They feel like they are in Hollywood just by buying bread and are captivated by the secretary's beauty. The city with its lights and the iconic Folies Bergères theater represents glamour and excitement. The protagonist reflects on their time in the countryside and dismisses the back-to-nature folk songs as only being entertaining for a short while. They admit to daydreaming about Mick Jagger and feeling unable to fully embrace an "authentic" lifestyle. Despite feeling ashamed, they couldn't deny how good it felt to reconnect with their guitar and play it at full volume. The song ultimately explores the complex dynamic between the allure of escaping to a simpler life and the magnetic pull of the city with its vibrant energy, consumerism, and urban lifestyle. It suggests that for some individuals, the irresistible appeal of returning to the city and its modern comforts outweighs the desire for a more natural existence.
