Bravo pour le clown
Ãdith Piaf Lyrics
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Un clown bien ridicule
Et dont le nom s'écrit en gifles majuscules
Pas beau pour un empire
Plus triste qu'un chapeau
Il boit d'énormes rires
Et mange des bravos
Bravo! Bravo!
Tes cheveux que l'on plume
Bravo! Bravo!
Tu croques des assiettes
Assis sur un jet d'eau
Tu ronges des paillettes
Tordu dans un tonneau
Pour ton nez qui s'allume
Bravo! Bravo!
Tes cheveux que l'on plume
Bravo! Bravo!
La foule aux grandes mains
S'accroche à ses oreilles
Lui vole ses chagrins
Et vide ses bouteilles
Son cœur qui se dévisse
Ne peut les attrister
Ç'est là qu'ils applaudissent
La vie qu'il a ratée!
Pour ta femme infidèle
Bravo! Bravo!
Et tu fais la vaisselle
Bravo! Bravo!
Ta vie est un reproche
Qui claque dans ton dos
Ton fils te fait les poches
Et toi, tu fais l'idiot
Pour ta femme infidèle
Bravo! Bravo!
Et tu fais la vaisselle
Bravo! Bravo!
Le cirque est déserté
Le rire est inutile
Mon clown est enfermé
Dans un certain asile
Succès de camisole
Bravos de cabanon
Des mains devenues folles
Lui battent leur chanson
Je suis roi et je règne
Bravo! Bravo!
J'ai des rires qui saignent
Bravo! Bravo!
Venez, que l'on m'acclame
J'ai fait mon numéro
Tout en jetant ma femme
Du haut du chapiteau
Bravo! Bravo!
The song "Bravo pour le clown!" by Edith Piaf is a dedication to her friend, a clown who is not conventionally attractive, but still manages to captivate and enchant his audience through his unique talent. The lyrics describe the clown as a sad figure, who drinks in the laughter and applause he receives from the crowd. He performs incredible feats that are often dangerous, such as sitting on a jet of water and eating plates, all while being twisted into a barrel.
The clown's life is seen as a parody of everyday life, with his wife being unfaithful, his son stealing from him, and him being forced to do menial tasks like washing dishes. The song shows that despite all the hardships, the clown is still able to see the beauty in life and make people happy. However, his joy is fleeting, and he is ultimately forced to retreat to an asylum due to the insane adoration of his fans.
The lyrics of "Bravo pour le clown!" express the idea that life is a circus, and that everybody is a performer. It highlights the human desire to be recognized and appreciated, even in difficult circumstances. The song is a poignant reminder to never give up on hope, even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Un clown est mon ami
I have a friend who is a clown
Un clown bien ridicule
He's a very silly clown
Et dont le nom s'écrit en gifles majuscules
His name is written in all caps like a punch
Pas beau pour un empire
He's not good-looking enough to rule an empire
Plus triste qu'un chapeau
He's sadder than a hat
Il boit d'énormes rires
He drinks huge laughter
Et mange des bravos
And eats applause
Pour ton nez qui s'allume
For your nose that lights up
Bravo! Bravo!
Bravo! Bravo!
Tes cheveux que l'on plume
Your hair that we pluck
Tu croques des assiettes
You crunch plates
Assis sur un jet d'eau
Sitting on a jet of water
Tu ronges des paillettes
You gnaw on glitter
Tordu dans un tonneau
Twisted up in a barrel
La foule aux grandes mains
The crowd with big hands
S'accroche à ses oreilles
Hangs onto his ears
Lui vole ses chagrins
Steals his sorrows
Et vide ses bouteilles
And empties his bottles
Son cœur qui se dévisse
His heart that's coming apart
Ne peut les attrister
Can't make them sad
Ç'est là qu'ils applaudissent
That's when they applaud
La vie qu'il a ratée!
The life he missed!
Pour ta femme infidèle
For your unfaithful wife
Et tu fais la vaisselle
And you do the dishes
Ta vie est un reproche
Your life is a reproach
Qui claque dans ton dos
That slaps you on the back
Ton fils te fait les poches
Your son steals from your pockets
Et toi, tu fais l'idiot
And you act like an idiot
Le cirque est déserté
The circus is abandoned
Le rire est inutile
Laughter is useless
Mon clown est enfermé
My clown is locked up
Dans un certain asile
In a certain asylum
Succès de camisole
Success in a straitjacket
Bravos de cabanon
Applause from a shack
Des mains devenues folles
Hands gone crazy
Lui battent leur chanson
Clap their song for him
Je suis roi et je règne
I am king and I reign
Bravo! Bravo!
Bravo! Bravo!
J'ai des rires qui saignent
I have laughter that bleeds
Venez, que l'on m'acclame
Come, let them acclaim me
J'ai fait mon numéro
I did my act
Tout en jetant ma femme
While throwing my wife
Du haut du chapiteau
From the top of the tent
Bravo! Bravo!
Bravo! Bravo!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BEUSCHER ARPEGE
Written by: HENRI ALEXANDRE CONTET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@l.salisbury1253
Now check out "these hands" by the Damned (UK 1979)- a very similar song, only this one's sung from the first-person point-of-view of the psychotic clown!
@Casey5693
Dang. This song is darker than I realized.
@00shawm
This is fabulous, thank you!
@MrKekesokol
merci hehee is maravillosa grande cantante
@camchecker
that reminds me on my paris tour
@pedrotibau6130
"faire la vaisselle" means do the dishes, not the wash
@NellieKAdaba
True
@oneblankspace4919
but M. le Clown is washing dishes, not clothes
@VNRose3
Correct, thanks.