Higelin's entertainment career began at age 14, when he left school to work as a stunt double. While playing a number of small roles in various motion pictures, Higelin was taught to play the guitar by Henri Crolla, an Italian film composer. By the early sixties, Higelin was attending the René Simon drama school, where he won the François Perier award.
For two years starting in 1961, Higelin served in the French military. Upon returning to France, he resumed his cinematic career, but increasingly began to focus on music over film. By the end of the decade, he was also very active in the artistic underground in Paris, and he began to channel his music towards radical militancy. He began attracting popular attention through his live concerts, typically held in smaller venues, and released his first solo album, in 1971. By the middle of the 1970s, Higelin had become one of France's most successful musicians, and he continued to be influential.
Tombé Du Ciel
Jacques Higelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
À travers les nuages
Quel heureux présage
Pour un aiguilleur du ciel
Tombé du lit
Fauché en plein rêve
Frappé par le glaive
De la sonnerie du réveil
Tombé
Dans l'oreille d'un sourd
Qui venait de tomber en amour, la veille
D'une hôtesse de l'air fidèle
Tombé
Du haut d'la passerelle
Dans les bras d'un bagagiste, un peu volage
Ancien tueur à gages
Comment peut-on tomber plus mal?
Tombé du ciel
Rebelle aux louanges
Chassé par les anges
Du paradis originel
Tombé d'sommeil
Perdu connaissance
Retombé en enfance
Au pied du grand sapin de Noël
Voilé de mystère
Sous mon regard ébloui
Par la naissance
D'une étoile dans le désert
Tombé
Comme un météore
Dans les poches de Balthazar, Gaspard ou Melchior
Les trois fameux rois mages
Trafiquants d'import-export
Tombé d'en haut
Comme les petites gouttes d'eau
Que j'entends tomber dehors, par la f'nêtre
Quand je m'endors le cœur en fête
Poseur de girouettes
Du haut du clocher
Donne à ma voix la direction
Par où le vent fredonne ma chanson
Tombé sur un jour de chance
Tombé à la fleur de l'âge
Dans l'oubli
Solo
C'est fou
C'qu'on peut voir tomber
Quand on traîne sur le pavé, les yeux en l'air
La semelle battant la poussière
On voit
Tombés des balcons
Des mégots, des pots d'fleurs, des chanteurs de charme
Des jeunes filles en larmes
Et des alpinistes amateurs
Tombé d'en haut
Comme les petites gouttes d'eau
Que j'entends tomber dehors, par la f'nêtre
Quand je m'endors, le cœur en fête
Poseur de girouettes
Du haut du clocher
Donne à ma voix la direction
Par où le vent fredonne ma chanson
Tombé sur un jour de chance
Tomber par inadvertance
Amoureux
Tombé à terre
Pour la fille qu'on aime
Se relever indemne
Et retomber amoureux
Tombé sur toi
Tombé en pâmoison
Avaler la ciguë
Goûter le poison qui tue
L'amour
L'amour encore et toujours
In Jacques Higelin's song Tombé Du Ciel, the artist speaks of different ways and situations of falling. He starts by describing falling from the sky through clouds, which he sees as a positive sign for an air traffic controller. Then he talks about falling out of bed, being interrupted by the alarm clock, and falling into the ear of a deaf person who had just fallen in love with an airline hostess. The song continues with falling from heaven, being chased away by angels from the original paradise, and falling asleep and losing consciousness, only to wake up under a Christmas tree. Higelin also talks about the mysterious birth of a star in the desert and compares it with one of the famous kings who came to see Jesus.
Later in the song, Higelin mentions the different things that he sees falling when he walks on the streets - from little drops of water to cigarette butts or even people. The song ends with him falling in love again and again.
Overall, the song describes the different ways people can fall, both physically and emotionally. It highlights that falling can be both positive and negative, and that love is a constant falling that can be dangerous but also beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Tombé du ciel à travers les nuages
Falling from the sky, breaking through the clouds. A lucky omen for an air traffic controller.
Tombé du lit fauché en plein rêve
Falling out of bed, abruptly awakened from a dream. Struck by the sword of the alarm clock.
Tombé dans l'oreille d'un sourd
Falling on deaf ears. Heard by someone who had fallen in love the day before with a faithful stewardess.
Tombé du haut d'la passerelle dans les bras d'un bagagiste un peu volage
Falling from the top of the gangway, caught by a somewhat flighty baggage handler. Former hitman who couldn't have fallen worse?
Tombé du ciel rebel aux louanges
Falling from the sky, defying praise. Driven out by the angels of the original paradise.
Tombé d'sommeil, perdu connaissance
Falling asleep, losing consciousness. Falling back into childhood at the foot of the Christmas tree.
Voilé de mystère sous mon regard ébloui
Shrouded in mystery under my dazzled gaze. By the birth of a star in the desert, that fell like a meteor into the pockets of Balthazar, Gaspard or Melchior, the three famous Wise Men.
Tombé sur un jour de chance
Falling on a lucky day. Falling into oblivion, alone and forgotten.
C'est fou c'qu'on peut voir tomber
It's crazy what you can see fall. When you walk around with your eyes to the sky, the sole of your shoe kicking up dust.
Tombé sur toi, tombé en pâmoison
Falling for you, falling into a swoon. Swallowed the hemlock, tasted the poison that kills. Love.
L'amour encore et toujours
Love again and always.
Lyrics © EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Higelin, Noah Yannick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind