By the age of six Calogero had already taken an interest in music. He quickly learned to play several instruments, including the flute, piano and bass, and in 1986 became the lead singer and song-writer for the band Charts. He started it together with his brother, Gioacchino, and a childhood friend, Francis Maggiulli. Between 1989 and 1997, "Charts" released 5 albums : "L'océan sans fond" (1989), "Notre monde à nous" (1991), "Hannibal" (1994), "Acte 1" (1995), and "Changer" (1997).
As the band began to lose its momentum, Calogero decided to launch himself as a solo artist and gathered important connections by writing songs and collaborating with already popular artists, such as Zazie and Pascal Obispo. The latter helped produce Calogero's first solo album Au milieu des autres (2000). His second album, Calogero (2002) was a huge success with the hit singles "En apesanteur", "Aussi libre que moi", "Tien an men" and "Prendre racine". Finally, in 2004, Calogero released .calog3ro, containing "Face à la mer", a duet with French rapper Passi, and several other top singles such as "Yalla" and "Si seulement je pouvais lui manquer".
Calogero's moving lyrics and frail, tender voice have made him one of France's top pop/rock singers.
Les Hommes Endormis
Calogero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ne font pas de mal à leurs ennemis
Vienne oh que vienne la nuit
Et puisque les hommes allongés
Ne lèveront ni le poing ni l’armée
Vienne oh que vienne la nuit
Vienne le temps des nuits
Vienne enfin le camp
Des hommes endormis
Vienne la nuit devant
Vienne devant la nuit
Vienne enfin le temps
Des hommes endormis
Et puisque les hommes
Dans leurs rêves
Font de l’amour un soleil qui se lève
Vienne oh que vienne la nuit
Et puisque les hommes
Qui sommeillent
Sont tous un peu frêles
Un peu tous pareils
Vienne oh que vienne la nuit
Vienne la nuit des temps
Vienne le temps des nuits
Vienne enfin le camp
Des hommes endormis
Vienne la nuit devant
Vienne devant la nuit
Vienne enfin le temps
Des hommes endormis
Vienne enfin le temps des hommes
Des hommes endormis
Calogero's song "Les Hommes Endormis" speaks to the powerlessness of those who sleep and dream, and the hope that comes with the darkness of night. The opening lines state that sleeping men do not harm their enemies, and so the singer calls for the arrival of night. He then notes that since sleeping men do not rise up or bear arms, night should come. The repetition of the phrase "Vienne la nuit" (let the night come) underscores the singer's desire for darkness to bring rest and freedom.
The singer goes on to describe the men who sleep as dreaming of love that rises like the sun. He notes that these sleepers are all alike, and all somewhat fragile. The chorus repeats the calls for the coming of night and the time of sleeping men. The final line, "Vienne enfin le temps des hommes / Des hommes endormis" (Let the time of sleeping men come at last), brings the song to a close.
One interpretation of this song is that men are powerless when they sleep, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Sleep is necessary for physical and mental restoration, and dreaming can allow for creative and positive thoughts. The arrival of night can bring a sense of calm and escape from the struggles of daily life. The repetition of the word "vienne" further emphasizes the soothing and hopeful nature of sleep.
Line by Line Meaning
Since sleeping men
Men who are asleep and unaware
Do no harm to their enemies
They are not in a position to cause harm to their foes
Let the night come
Let the darkness and stillness of the night take over
And since men lying down
And since men who are lying still
Will neither raise their fists nor an army
They will not muster the strength to fight or start a rebellion
Let the night come
Let the peace and tranquility of the night reign supreme
Let the night of times come
Let the long-awaited era of peace and rest arrive
Let the time of nights come
Let the time when darkness rules over light arrive
Let finally arrive
Let it finally happen
The camp of sleeping men
The community of tired and slumbering men
Let the night come ahead
Let the night come forth and lead the way
Let the night finally come
Let the darkness and stillness finally reign supreme
And since men
And since men in general
In their dreams
While in their subconscious state
Make love the rising sun
Create a world where love conquers all
Let the night come
Let the night take over and rule over these dreams
And since sleeping men
And since men who are unaware and resting
Are all a little weak
Are all vulnerable and fragile
And a little bit the same
And share similarities in their sleep state
Let the night come
Let the night make them all equal and peaceful
Let the night of times come
Let the peaceful era finally arrive
Let the time of nights come
Let the time of darkness and rest finally commence
Let finally come
Let it finally happen
The time of sleeping men
The time when men can finally rest and sleep in peace
Lyrics © LA ZIZANIE, Tresor Des Iles, LES POUPEES, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: CALOGERO MAURICI, GIOACCHINO MAURICI, ISABELLE DE TRUCHIS, PATRICE GUIRAO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind