Claude Nougaro (September 9, 1929 Toulouse – March 4, 2004 Paris) was a Fre… Read Full Bio ↴Claude Nougaro (September 9, 1929 Toulouse – March 4, 2004 Paris) was a French songwriter and singer.

Son of an opera singer and an Italian piano teacher (Liette), he was raised by his grandparents in Toulouse, where he heard Glenn Miller, Édith Piaf and Louis Armstrong (among others) on the radio.

In 1947 he failed his baccalaureat and commenced a career in journalism, writing for various journals including Le Journal des Curistes at Vichy and L'Echo d'Alger. At the same time he wrote songs for Marcel Amont (Le barbier de Belleville, Le balayeur du roi) and Philippe Clay (Joseph, La sentinelle). He met Georges Brassens, who became his friend and mentor.

In 1949 he performed his military service in the foreign legion at Rabat, Morocco.

He sent his lyrics to Marguerite Monnot, Édith Piaf's songwriter, who put them to music. (Méphisto, Le Sentier de la guerre). He started to sing for a livelihood in 1959 in a Parisian cabaret in Montmartre, Le lapin agile.

In 1962, he decided to sing his works himself: Une petite fille and Cécile ma fille (dedicated to his daughter, born in 1962 to his wife Sylvie, whom he met at Le lapin agile). These songs made him immediately known to the larger public, which he had already started to penetrate by participating in the concerts of Dalida.

A car accident immobilised him for several months in 1963. The following year he travelled to Brazil, and sang in prestigious halls in Paris: the Olympia, the Palais, the Théâtre de la Ville.

Following the death of his friend Jacques Audiberti in 1965 he wrote, in homage, the song Chanson pour le maçon.

The events of May 1968 inspired him to the torrential Paris Mai, a plea for life, which would be banned from the airwaves. The same year he recorded his first live album at the Olympia: Une soirée avec Claude Nougaro.

His career continued normally punctuated with success: Le jazz et la java, Tu verras, Île de Ré, Armstrong, Toulouse, Petit taureau. But in 1984, his recording company did not renew his contract. Nougaro left for New York, seeking inspiration, and while there wrote and recorded a self-financed disc, Nougayork, whose resounding success was a surprise.

In 1988 Victoires de la musique rewarded him with best album and best artist, and between 1993 and 1997 he released three new albums.

His health deteriorated after 1995, when he underwent a heart operation. In 2003, his condition left him unable to appear at the festival du Verbe at Toulouse. From 1998 to 2004 he devoted himself more to concerts and festivals, apart from an album in aid of children suffering from AIDS. Having undergone further surgery in early 2004, he died of cancer in March, 74 years old.

His music drew inspiration, among other sources, from American jazz, from which he borrowed heavily (Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins), but also from Brazilian music (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell de Aquino, Chico Buarque).

Allez Les Verts
Claude Nougaro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

La tribune a brûlé
Plus d'ballon d'oxygène
L'hooligan est passé
Bombes lacrymogènes

Le football
A des effets pervers
Manque de bol

Allez, allez les Verts

La guerre a éclaté
La furie se déchaîne
Ces salauds d'à côté
Sont vraiment sans gêne

Qu'ils périssent
Avec les tripes à l'air
Qu'ils pourrissent
Allez, allez les vers

Célébrons
Les héros de l'enfer
Et trinquons
Allez, allez les verres

Le papier est froissé
Le poète est exsangue
Sa muse est fracassée
A perdu sa langue

Et pourtant
Contre tout et envers
Il écrit
Allez, allez les vers

Le football
A des effets pervers

Manque de bol
Allez, allez les Verts

Overall Meaning

In Claude Nougaro's song "Allez Les Verts," the lyrics reflect a sense of disillusionment and frustration towards both the football world and society as a whole. The opening lines mention a burned stadium and the lack of oxygen, portraying a chaotic and dangerous atmosphere. The mention of hooligans and tear gas bombs further emphasizes the destructive nature of football and the negative impact it can have.

The following verse compares the state of football to war, with the fury unleashed and the neighboring teams being disrespectful and intrusive. The wish for their demise is expressed with visceral language, suggesting a deep resentment towards those who disturb the peace.

However, amidst this pessimism, the chorus offers a glimpse of hope and unity. Despite acknowledging the negative effects of football, the singer urges for support and encouragement for the team referred to as "Les Verts" (The Greens). This can be seen as a metaphor for facing life's challenges and standing together in the face of adversity. It highlights the paradoxical nature of the game, where despite its flaws, it still brings people together and inspires a sense of loyalty and camaraderie.

Line by Line Meaning

La tribune a brûlé
The stands have burned

Plus d'ballon d'oxygène
No more oxygen ball

L'hooligan est passé
The hooligan has passed

Bombes lacrymogènes
Tear gas bombs

Le football
Football

A des effets pervers
Has perverse effects

Manque de bol
Bad luck

Allez, allez les Verts
Go, go the Greens

La guerre a éclaté
The war broke out

La furie se déchaîne
Fury unleashes

Ces salauds d'à côté
Those damn neighbors