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).

Go Man
Claude Nougaro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si tu te sentais bien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme
Go man

sur tes malheurs anciens
Go man
allez remets la gomme gomme
Go man
sur de nouveaux chemins
Go man
sans être un surhomme rhomme rhomme
Go man
restons humains

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si tu te sentais bien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme
Go man
sur tes malheurs anciens
Go man
allez remets la gomme gomme
Go man
sur de nouveaux chemins
Go man
ils mènent tous à Rome Rome
Go man
soyons divins

Divins
ma divine
ma déesse
sex machine
je t'enlève
fais moi confiance
je m'appelle
espérance

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si tu te sentais bien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme
Go man
sur tes malheurs anciens
Go man
allez remets la gomme gomme
Go man
sur de nouveaux chemins
Go man
ils mènent tous à Rome Rome
Go man
soyons divins

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si t'avais peur de rien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme
Go man
sur tes malheurs anciens
Go man
allez remets la gomme gomme
Go man
sur de nouveaux chemins
Go man
ils mènent tous à Rome Rome
Go man
soyons divins

Divins
ma divine
ma patrie
ma poitrine
on s'élance
vers l'immense
on s'appelle
l'espérance

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si tu te sentais bien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme
Go man
sur tes malheurs anciens

Go man
si t'es un homme
fais comme comme
Go man
si t'avais peur de rien
Go man
il faut passer la gomme gomme

Go man
sur tes malheurs anciens

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Claude Nougaro's song "Go Man" are a call to action and a message of empowerment and resilience. The repetition of "Go man" throughout the song serves as a mantra, encouraging the listener to take charge of their life and move forward. It emphasizes the idea that if you consider yourself a man, you should step up and face your challenges head-on.

The phrase "il faut passer la gomme gomme" can be translated as "you have to erase, erase" or "rub it out, rub it out." This can be interpreted as a metaphor for letting go of past troubles and starting fresh. It suggests that one should leave behind their old sorrows and embrace new paths and possibilities.

The lyrics also speak of being humane and remaining humble. The line "restons humains" reminds us to stay true to our humanity despite our aspirations and desires.

In the second part of the song, the lyrics shift to a more sensual and romantic tone. The phrase "Divins, ma divine, ma déesse, sex machine" expresses the longing for physical connection and passion. The name "espérance" (hope) is introduced as a symbol of faith and optimism.

Line by Line Meaning

Go man
Let's go, man

si t'es un homme
if you're a man

fais comme comme
do it like this

Go man
Let's go, man

si tu te sentais bien
if you felt good

Go man
Let's go, man

il faut passer la gomme gomme
you have to erase it all

Go man
Let's go, man

sur tes malheurs anciens
on your past misfortunes

Go man
Let's go, man

allez remets la gomme gomme
come on, put in some effort