When Alain Bashung was one year old he was sent to the Strasbourg area, in Wingersheim, to stay with his grandparents. He spent his childhood in the country in a conservative environment. When he was five years old he discovered Music most notably Kurt Weill, as he played harmonica. He was also a Choirboy in the church at Wingersheim and played basket-ball. At School he was regarded serious child.
He returned to Paris in 1959, where he discovered the great names of Chanson Française, the radio, American Rock with Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whilst studying to become an accountant, he started a short lived Band with friends “les Dunces” whose style swong between Folk and Rockabilly. He quickly dropped his studies.
Bashung started a band with musicians met in Royan, a new band playing in Restaurants, Hotels and most of all the American bases. his career started with some difficulties with the release of his first single at 19 years of age “Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?” in 1966. He released a dozen singles, one using the pseudonym David Bergen, and two others. In 1971/1972 under the pseudonym "Hendrick Darmen" compositor and singer of the band “Monkey Bizness”. He wrote a number of songs for stars of the time like Noël Deschamps, but doesn't appear to have reached success.
In 1973, he played Robespierre in the Musical “La Révolution française” written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. He met Dick Rivers the singer of Les Chats Sauvages, for whom he composed and produced music.
He met musician Andy Scott and the songwriter Boris Bergman, and in 1977 wrote his first innovative LP “Romans photos”, though it was a Commercial failure in the context of Punk storming music.
In 1979, he released “Roulette russe”, a very dark and more Rock orientated album.
He confirmed his talent with critical acclaim and public success in 1981, with the rock influenced album “pizza”, mainly with one single from the album “Gaby, oh Gaby” that finally got Bashung success in the charts in 1981 followed by the single “Vertige de l'amour”, and started touring the bigger venues Notably “l'Olympia” in Paris.
In 1982, Bashung collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg on the complex album “Play blessures”, that did not achieve commercial success.
In 1983, he confused his fan base with an album deviating from the previous rock style, “Figure imposée”. In 1985, he came back with a number of titles written for “SOS Racisme” (anti-racism organisation).
In 1986, he released “Passé le Rio Grande”, which won him a “Victoire de la Musique”. Two singles achieved some success over the airwaves: “Malédiction” and “L'arrivée du tour”. However the album itself did not sell much.
In 1992, he started a long partnership with writer Jean Fauque, for “Osez Joséphine”, an album which also contains some cover of classic Rock such as “Night in White Satin”. His fan base grew and the album sold 350 000 copies. In 1994, he followed up with “Chatterton,” collaborating with Sonny Landreth, Ally McErlaine, Link Wray, Marc Ribot and Stéphane Belmondo. The key single extracted from this album is “Ma petite entreprise.” He started a two-year tour that results in the 1995 live album, “Confessions publiques.”
After recording a duet with Brigitte Fontaine "City" for her album "Les Palaces", Bashung returned to the musical world following a stint acting and in 1998 with “Fantaisie militaire”. While making this album in collaboration with Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins and Jean-Marc Lederman. He will receive three Victoires de la Musique for the Album in 1999.
In 2002, he released the “L'imprudence” album to further critical acclaim. During the same year, he recorded with his wife, actress and comedian Chloé Mons “le Cantique des cantiques”. They created this title for their wedding in 2001, on a music written by Rodolphe Burger and on the basis a a new translation of the “Cantique des cantiques” from the Bible by the Author Olivier Cadiot.
In 2004, he released live double album “La tournée des grands espaces."
In 2005, for the twentieth Victoires de la Musique, he received an award for the best album of the last 20 years for “Fantaisie militaire.”
In the beginning of 2007, he participates in the tour “Les Aventuriers d'un autre Monde” with Jean-Louis Aubert (Téléphone), Cali, Daniel Darc, Richard Kolinka (Téléphone) and Raphaeël.
In March 2009, he recieved three Victoires de la Musique for his last album "Bleu Pétrol".
He passed away on March 14th, 2009 of complications of metastatic lung cancer.
Seul le chien
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seul le chien nous attend
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
La paume est cette enclume
Où tout est dessiné
Et l'étoile et la lune
Et le cœur des marais
Roulent pour la solitude
Ce ventre constellé
De manquer d'habitudes
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien nous attend
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
Type tordu, corps fiévreux
Aux mains en plot romance
Promise aux contredanses
Aux créneaux hasardeux
Il nargue des sirènes
Leur chante des adieux
Du feutre sur les yeux
Plus tard quand ils reviennent
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien les attend
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
C'est la dernière étoile
Que je vois s'allumer
C'est le dernier soupir
Que je m'entends pousser
Qu'on me porte, qu'on m'installe
Qu'on me donne à chauffer
Une dernière salle
Que je vois défiler
Un à un ces visages
Pour qui j'aurais compté
Mais l'heure a beau tourner
Au milieu de la salle
Seul un chien me regarde
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien nous attend
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
The lyrics to Alain Bashung's Seul le chien speak of solitude and the transience of life. The first two lines, "Seul le chien se souvient, Seul le chien nous attend" (Only the dog remembers, only the dog waits for us), introduce the main theme of the song: the idea that only animals, such as dogs, are capable of loyalty and remembrance. This is followed by the poignant line "Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps" (It's too bad that they live such a short time), which highlights the sadness of life's fleeting nature.
The second stanza is equally evocative, with the image of the palm as an anvil on which everything is drawn, including "l'étoile et la lune" (the star and the moon) and "le cœur des marais" (the heart of the marshes). The lines "Ce ventre constellé, De manquer d'habitudes" (This starry belly, lacking habits) are particularly striking, suggesting both the beauty and emptiness of existence.
The third stanza introduces a character described as "Type tordu, corps fiévreux" (Twisted type, feverish body), who defies conventional expectations and dares to challenge sirens and dance with danger. The image of "Du feutre sur les yeux" (Felt over the eyes) adds a sense of mystery and intrigue. However, in the end, he is left with only memories and regret.
The final stanza brings us to the end of life, with the singer being carried away and watching faces pass him by, "Un à un ces visages pour qui j'aurais compté" (One by one these faces for whom I would have mattered). But, in the end, it is only the dog who remains, faithfully keeping watch over his master's memory.
Overall, Seul le chien is a powerful meditation on loneliness, memory, and the poignancy of human existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Seul le chien se souvient
Only the dog remembers
Seul le chien nous attend
Only the dog waits for us
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
It's a shame that he lives for so short a time
La paume est cette enclume
The palm is this anvil
Où tout est dessiné
Where everything is drawn
Et l'étoile et la lune
And the star and the moon
Et le cœur des marais
And the heart of the marshes
Toutes les lignes tracées
All the lines drawn
Roulent pour la solitude
Roll for solitude
Ce ventre constellé
This starry belly
De manquer d'habitudes
Of lacking habits
Type tordu, corps fiévreux
Twisted type, feverish body
Aux mains en plot romance
With hands in a romantic knot
Promise aux contredanses
Promised to contradances
Aux créneaux hasardeux
To the risky battlements
Il nargue des sirènes
He taunts some sirens
Leur chante des adieux
He sings them farewell
Du feutre sur les yeux
With felt over his eyes
Plus tard quand ils reviennent
Later when they come back
C'est la dernière étoile
It's the last star
Que je vois s'allumer
That I see light up
C'est le dernier soupir
It's the last breath
Que je m'entends pousser
That I hear myself push out
Qu'on me porte, qu'on m'installe
That they carry me, that they install me
Qu'on me donne à chauffer
That they give me heat
Une dernière salle
One last room
Que je vois défiler
That I see pass by
Un à un ces visages
One by one these faces
Pour qui j'aurais compté
For whom I would have counted
Mais l'heure a beau tourner
But the time may turn
Au milieu de la salle
In the middle of the room
Seul un chien me regarde
Only a dog looks at me
Seul le chien se souvient
Only the dog remembers
Seul le chien nous attend
Only the dog waits for us
Dommage qu'il vive si peu de temps
It's a shame that he lives for so short a time
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dominique Ane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Muirgheal J.
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien nous attend
Dommage
Qu'il vive si peu de temps
La paume est cette enclume
Où tout est dessiné
Et l'étoile et la lune
Et le cœur des marais
Toutes les lignes tracées
Roulent pour la solitude
Ce ventre constellé
De manquer d'habitudes
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien vous attend
Dommage
Qu'il vive si peu de temps
Type tordu corps fiévreux
Aux mains en plot romance
Promise aux contredanses
Aux créneaux hasardeux
Il nargue des sirènes
Leur chantent les adieux
Du feutre sur les yeux
Plus tard quand ils reviennent
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien les attend
Dommage
Qu'il vive si peu de temps
C'est la dernière étoile
Que je vois s'allumer
C'est le dernier soupir
Que je m'entends pousser
Qu'on me porte, qu'on m'installe
Qu'on me donne à chauffer
Une dernière salle
Que je vois défiler
Un à un ces visages
Pour qui j'aurai compté
Mais l'heure a beau tourner
Au milieu de la salle
Seul un chien me regarde
Seul le chien se souvient
Seul le chien vous attend
Dommage
Qu'il vive si peu de temps
Sun Sea
Bleus des combats nourris
Il n’est pas sans toi harmonie
Tempêtes ravages te construisent
Hurler ton histoire tes pas
Chaleurs des îles cœur battre
La mer de la précédente oublies
Elle porte tes envies tes joies
Vents d'orages rêves d'amis
Blanc noir de passés détruits
Il sert à tes sourires
Ouragans ne tuent pas lâches
Alizés prends haleine
Pétole navigue tes sens
La mer de la précédente avances
Elle porte tes envies ta joie
Vents tes rages rêves vies
pascal
C’est si vrai ! Seul mon chien 🐕 me regarde ! Et c’est mieux ainsi,après tant de choses inutiles et futiles. Lui est l’être le plus noble et fidèle.🤗🤗👍🐕
Damien Balzac
Je dédie cette chanson à mon chien Atos, mort à 5 ans et demi. Une vie courte mais merveilleuse, merci mon chien, je t'aime, on va se revoir, t'inquiète !
Francois DESMEULES
Il parle de lui.
Eddie Adams
Sublime reprise du titre de Dominique A. ! La voix de Bashung transcende cette chanson en un dernier cri d'amour désespéré...
francois chapuy
Sublime
H5iangfu
la version de Bashung d'Immortels sur le même album est à pleurer également. dans le bon sens.
Michel Rigot
😥
Michel Rigot
Monsieur bashung vous me manquez grave
jean-pierre bernigaud
Le mien s’appelait Athos !
Bel hommage d’un texte et d’un chanteur tellement talentueux et émouvants.
Michel Perillat
A toutes mes compagnes à quatre pattes qui ont et celle encore qui partage ma vie ; cette interprétation d"Alain ,les larmes aux yeux me viennent .
Michel Périllat