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).

Le Cycle Amen
Claude Nougaro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen
Amen, amen, amen
J'ai rêvé
Que le ciel disait amen
A chacun d'mes souhaits
Amen,

Amen, amen, amen
Amen
Amen, amen, amen
Et voilà
Que le ciel disait amen
A chacun d'mes souhaits
Atchoum!
Bazéquétéloumé... etc...

Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen, amen
Amen
Amen, amen, amen
Amen
Amen, amen, amen
J'ai rêvé

Que le ciel disait amen
A chacun d'mes souhaits

Overall Meaning

The song "Le Cycle Amen" by Claude Nougaro begins with a repetitive chant of "Amen," which continues throughout the song. The first verse describes a dream the singer had in which heaven responds with "Amen" to each of his wishes. The second verse is interrupted by a sneeze and a nonsense phrase, which adds a touch of humor to the song.

The repetition of "Amen" in this song carries both a religious and spiritual connotation. While "amen" is a common biblical term often used to express agreement or affirmation, it is also used in spiritual meditation and mindfulness practices. The mention of dreams and wishes suggest a more personal interpretation of the song, with Nougaro perhaps suggesting a belief in the power of positive thoughts and intentions. Additionally, the inclusion of the sneeze and nonsensical phrase injects a playful quality into the song, likely meant to alleviate any sense of seriousness or religiosity associated with the repeated use of "amen."

Line by Line Meaning

Amen
This is a word commonly used to express agreement, support or affirmation.

Amen, amen, amen
Continuing to express agreement, support or affirmation.

J'ai rêvé
I have dreamed.

Que le ciel disait amen
That the sky was saying amen.

A chacun d'mes souhaits
To each of my wishes.

Amen,
Agreement, support or affirmation.

Amen, amen, amen
Continuing to express agreement, support or affirmation.

Et voilà
And there it is.

Que le ciel disait amen
That the sky was saying amen.

A chacun d'mes souhaits
To each of my wishes.

Atchoum!
A sound associated with sneezing.