In an interview, Goldman pointed out that the latter song made direct reference to "Là-bas" by borrowing a line from it : "Ici tout est joué d'avance", meaning "Here everything is set from the beginning", became "Même si tout est joué d'avance", meaning "Even if everything is set from the beginning" (suggesting this time that the male protagonist, presumably more mature and fatalist, and in a reversed socio-economic context, i.e. living in a rich country and longing for a more meaningful life outside of his suffocating comfort, is aware that there is not much to be gained "out there" but still has the urge to go anyway; and this time he is the one begging for the woman to go with him, as it doesn't make sense for him to go alone).

It peaked at number two for five non consecutive weeks, but was unable to dislodge Guesch Patti's "Étienne", then Sabrina's "Boys (Summertime Love)" which topped the chart then.

The song was covered by many artists throughout the years, including Michel Delpech in 1996, Murray Head and Lio, Corey Hart and Julie Masse in 1998, Renaud Hantson and Nourith, Michel Leclerc (instrumental version) in 2000, Florent Pagny and Natasha St-Pier in 2002 (available on St-Pier's album De l'amour le mieux),[9] Philippe Heuvelinne and Marc Rouvé in 2003, Humana, Prise 2 Son (released as a single, the second track of the CD "Un Autre Monde, number 45 in France)[10] in 2004, Opium du Peuple, and Grégory Lemarchal and the 500 choristers in 2007 (available on his posthumous album La Voix d'un ange).

Jean-Jacques Goldman re-recorded the song as a duet with Céline Dion for the Les Enfoirés' 1996 album La Compil'.

Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones made an English version of the song called "On my way home" interpreted by Joe Cocker (album No ordinary world).

As often with English translations of French songs in general (as exemplified by "My Way", based on Claude François' "Comme d'habitude", or "Only The Very Best" from Tycoon, based on Starmania's "SOS d'un terrien en détresse"), and Goldman songs in particular, the lyrics are not a literal translation of the original (on my way home versus leaving) but remain true to the overall theme (tribulation).