Charles Trenet (May 18, 1913, Narbonne, France – February 19, 2001, Créteil… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Trenet (May 18, 1913, Narbonne, France – February 19, 2001, Créteil, France) was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s through the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s. In an era in which it was exceptional for a singer to write his or her own material, Trenet wrote prolifically and preferred to record his own songs.

Some of his best known songs include "Boum...!", "Y'A D'La Joie", "Que Reste-T-Il De Nos Amours?", "Ménilmontant", and "Douce France". His catalog of songs is enormous, numbering close to a thousand. While many of his songs mined relatively conventional topics such as love, Paris, and nostalgia for his younger days, what set Trenet's songs apart were their personal, poetic, sometimes quite eccentric qualities, often infused with a warm wit. Some of his songs had unconventional subject matter, with whimsical imagery bordering on the surreal. "Y'A D'La Joie" evokes "joy" through a series of disconnected (though all vaguely phallic) images, including that of a subway car shooting out of its tunnel into the air, the Eiffel Tower crossing the street and a baker making excellent bread. The lovers engaged in a minuet in "La Polka Du Roi" reveal themselves at length to be "no longer human": they are made of wax and trapped in the Musée Grévin. Many of his hits from the 1930s and 1940s effectively combine the melodic and verbal nuance of French song with American swing rhythms.

Other artists have had hits with some of Trenet's songs, such as the American Bobby Darin's success with "Beyond the Sea" ("La Mer"). Darin's version preserved the charming chording of Trenet's original which the author dashed off in about an hour in 1946 as an homage to the French coastline, once again free of battleships and the scars of World War II.

Other Trenet songs were recorded by such popular French singers as Maurice Chevalier, Jean Sablon, and Frehel.

Annie Anna
Charles Trenet Lyrics

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Tandis qu'Anna se met à la machine à coudre
Voyez sa sœur Annie qui se met de la poudre
Tandis qu'Anna toujours nettoie le linge sale
En ascenseur, sa sœur Annie s'en va au bal

Annie
Vous êtes bien plus jolie qu'Anna
Anna, je vous aime beaucoup plus qu'Annie

Annie
Vous avez des yeux bleus qu'Anna n'a
Anna
Je préfère vos jolis yeux gris
L'amour est dans mon cœur est entré depuis
Le jour béni où je vous vis
Annie
Vous avez séduit un maharajah
Anna
Eh bien, vous n'avez séduit que moi

Tandis qu'Anna dans sa maison fait la lessive
Dans les salons sa sœur Annie fait la lascive
Le maharajah met des trésors sur sa poitrine
Cette poitrine m'a tout l'air d'une vitrine

Annie
Tous vos amis font du cinéma
Anna
Je suis vraiment votre seul ami
Annie
Cet Hindou vous dit toujours, ça va, toi
Anna
Il ne faut pas envier sa vie, lui
Rajah, je préfère aux trésors d'un jour
Un bel amour qui dure toujours
Annie
Vous sortez en robe d'apparat
Anna
Vous restez toujours seule à Paris

Un jour, la pauvre Annie vient frapper à ma porte (toc-toc)
Elle a des yeux qui font des plis, l'air d'une morte
Le maharajah vient de partir pour Singapour
En emportant ses bijoux faux comme son amour

Annie
Vous vous êtes jetée dans mes bras
Anna
Tout trois nous avons pleuré sans bruit
Annie
Vous êtes restée trois jours dans le coma
Anna
Hier, vous avez épousé le commis
Et moi qui ne suis pas un maharajah
Mais un ami
Je suis parti
Parti
Je suis parti pour ouh-ouh (non, pas pour le Tirol)
Pour Bratislava
Là-bas

Je vais essayer de refaire ma vie
En oubliant Anna-Annie

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Charles Trenet's song "Annie-Anna" tell the story of two sisters, Anna and Annie, who have very different lives and personalities. While Anna is portrayed as hardworking and practical, spending her time doing household chores like laundry, Annie is portrayed as more glamorous and carefree, frequenting social gatherings and wearing makeup. The lyrics explore a love triangle, with the singer expressing his preference for Annie over Anna. He compliments Annie's blue eyes and claims to love her more than Anna, who only has gray eyes. However, the singer also acknowledges that he has been seduced by Annie, while Anna has remained faithful only to him.

The second verse continues to contrast the sisters' lives. While Anna continues with her daily household tasks, Annie indulges in a luxurious lifestyle, implied by the mention of the maharajah and the treasures he adorns Annie with. The singer comments on how Annie's friends are superficial and puts emphasis on the fact that he is the only true friend she has. The final lines suggest that the singer values genuine love over material possessions, stating that a lasting love is more precious than temporary treasures.

In the last verse, Annie comes to the singer's door looking disheveled and distressed, implying that her relationship with the maharajah has ended. The singer describes her eyes as tired and compares her to a lifeless body. It is revealed that the maharajah has left for Singapore, taking his fake jewels and love with him. The singer console Annie, and they share a moment of quiet sorrow. However, the singer ultimately reveals that he has married the clerk, leaving Annie behind. The song concludes with the singer stating his intention to start a new life in Bratislava, trying to forget the complicated love triangle between Anna, Annie, and himself.

Overall, "Annie-Anna" explores themes of love, loyalty, and the contrasting experiences of two sisters. It presents a narrative that delves into the complexities of relationships and the sometimes painful choices made within them.

Annie AnnaCharles Trenet Lyrics

Annie Anna
Charles Trenet Lyrics