Daughter of the poet Alfred DesRochers, Clémence was born in 1933 in the ci… Read Full Bio ↴Daughter of the poet Alfred DesRochers, Clémence was born in 1933 in the city of Sherbrooke, Canada. In 1950 she became a member of the «La troupe de la Roulotte» lead by Paul Buissonneau and enrolled at the Conservatoire d’art Dramatique de Montréal. In 1957 she made her debut at the Cabaret Saint-Germain-des-Prés de Montréal with Jacques Normand. Following that countless memorable moments including ; Les Bozos in 1959, the musical comedy Le vol rose du Flamant in 1964, Les Girls in 1969 and many roles on television including Mademoiselle Ste-Bénite in Enfats Gruijot et Délicat. Author, poet, comedian, singer and much more, Clémence has received multiple prizes and honours including Order of Québec, Order of Canada, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards and Le Prix Denise Pelletier for a life time achievement award. La SOCAN and SPACQ have countlessly acclaimed her work as a singer songwriter.

Vous étiez si belle
Clémence DesRochers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vous étiez si belle
Marchant lentement
À quatre-vingts ans
Le long de vos champs
Vos robes pastel
Et vos cheveux blancs
Vous étiez si belle

Et dans la chapelle
Pleurent doucement
Ceux qui se rappellent
Vous étiez si belle

Votre œil bleu suivant
Un vol d′hirondelles
À leurs chants se mêlent
Ceux des anciens temps
Le troupeau qui bêle
La voix des enfants
De l'époux fidèle

Et dans la chapelle
Pleurent doucement
Ceux qui se rappellent
Vous étiez si belle

Plus rien maintenant
Que des foins rebelles
La rouille en dentelle
Sur les bâtiments
Un vieil habitant
Creuse en fredonnant
Le lit de la belle

Et dans la chapelle
Pleurent doucement
Ceux qui se rappellent

Vous étiez si belle
Vous étiez si belle

Overall Meaning

The song "Vous étiez si belle" by Clémence DesRochers tells the story of an elderly woman who walks slowly through her fields at eighty years of age, wearing pastel dresses and with white hair. Despite her advanced age and weathered appearance, the woman remains beautiful to those who remember her. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, a time when things were simpler and more peaceful. The woman's blue eye follows the flight of swallows whose songs blend with those from olden times, and the herd that bleats and the voices of children of a faithful spouse accompany her.

The song creates a vivid image of the woman's life and surroundings, with descriptions of her fields, buildings, and even the sound of her footsteps. The chapel mentioned in the lyrics serves as a reminder of the past and the people who have passed away. The mournful tone of the song reflects the inevitable passage of time and the fleeting nature of beauty and life itself. The last verse speaks of the woman's passing and the remnants of her life, with only the wild hay and rust on the buildings remaining, and an old inhabitant digging her final resting place.

Overall, "Vous étiez si belle" is a poignant reflection on aging, beauty, and the memories we leave behind.

Line by Line Meaning

Vous étiez si belle
Addressing the beauty of an elderly woman

Marchant lentement
Walking slowly

À quatre-vingts ans
At the age of 80

Le long de vos champs
Walking alongside her field

Vos robes pastel
Wearing pastel-colored dresses

Et vos cheveux blancs
With her white hair

Et dans la chapelle
In the chapel

Pleurent doucement
People crying softly

Ceux qui se rappellent
Those who remember

Votre œil bleu suivant
Her blue eyes following