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).
Mademoiselle Maman
Claude Nougaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Compositeur: Yvan Cassar
Arrangeur : Eric Chevalier
Editions: Miss Terre/Y Cassar
MADEMOISELLE MAMAN
Permettez, Mademoiselle
Dans ces colonies rebelles
Mon bras n'a rien d'un cobra
Permettez Mademoiselle
Tout en vous prenant le bras
Que je tienne votre ombrelle
Auréole de vos pas
Ecoutez Mademoiselle
Car ma voix ne triche pas
Comme je vous sais pucelle
Je vous offre mon bras droit
Au miroir de vos prunelles
Je me vois comme un géant
Pour le sel de votre aisselle
J'ai traversé l'océan
C'est ainsi que papa
Parlait à maman
Mademoiselle
Mad'moiselle maman ,Mad'moiselle maman
Bien sûr ,je n'étais pas né
Pourtant je l'assure
C'est tout comme si j'y étais
J'ai tout écouté
Tout écouté
Permettez Mademoiselle
De vous demander la main
Oui,c'est un peu tôt,mais celle
Que je veux c'est vous,certain
J'ai pris tant de caravelles
Traversé tant de cargos
J'ai dans la gorge un oiseau
Qui ne vit que pour vos ailes
C'est ainsi que papa
Parlait à maman
Mademoiselle
Mad'moiselle maman, Mad'emoiselle maman
Bien sûr je n'étais pas né
Pourtant je l'assure
C'est tout comme si j'y étais
J'ai tout écouté
Tout écouté
Lorsque maman a souri
Je m' suis fait tout p'tit
Et quand ils firent l'amour
J'ai fermé les yeux
J'ai fait le sourd.
Mademoiselle Maman by Claude Nougaro is a song about a man who is offering his arm to a young lady in a rebellious colony. He finds her so pure like a virgin and offers his right arm to her. He sees himself as a giant in the reflection of her eyes and claims to have crossed the ocean for the salt of her armpits. He then asks for her hand in marriage, claiming that he has traveled across the seas to find her. The singer seems to be reminiscing about a conversation between his father and mother when asking for her hand in marriage. It is as though he is reliving that moment, and this is suggested by his use of the phrase "J'ai tout écouté," which translates to "I listened to everything."
The song Mademoiselle Maman is a tribute to Nougaro's mother, who was a piano teacher. The song displays Nougaro's affection for his mother because he was brought up in her presence while she taught her students. What's more, the song was produced by Yvan Cassar, a French arranger, musician and composer, who has worked with many other artists including Johnny Hallyday and Celine Dion. It is part of Nougaro's 23rd studio album, released in 1997. The song has also been more recently covered by many younger singers and musicians, including Eric Legnini, an Italian pianist, and arranger Davide Esposito. The song is popular for its poetic language and the way its melody captures both the sadness and joy in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Permettez, Mademoiselle
Que je vous offre mon bras
Dans ces colonies rebelles
Mon bras n'a rien d'un cobra
May I offer you my arm, Mademoiselle? My arm is not a cobra, even in these rebellious colonies.
Permettez Mademoiselle
Tout en vous prenant le bras
Que je tienne votre ombrelle
Auréole de vos pas
While holding your arm, Mademoiselle, may I also hold your umbrella to form an aura around your steps?
Ecoutez Mademoiselle
Car ma voix ne triche pas
Comme je vous sais pucelle
Je vous offre mon bras droit
Mademoiselle, listen to me, for my voice does not deceive. As I know you are a virgin, I offer you my right arm.
Au miroir de vos prunelles
Je me vois comme un géant
Pour le sel de votre aisselle
J'ai traversé l'océan
When I look into your eyes, I see myself as a giant, and I have crossed the ocean for the salt of your armpit.
C'est ainsi que papa
Parlait à maman
Mademoiselle
Mad'moiselle maman ,Mad'moiselle maman
Bien sûr ,je n'étais pas né
Pourtant je l'assure
C'est tout comme si j'y étais
J'ai tout écouté
Tout écouté
That's how Papa spoke to Mama, Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle Mama. Of course, I wasn't born yet, but I assure you it's like I was there. I listened to everything.
Permettez Mademoiselle
De vous demander la main
Oui,c'est un peu tôt,mais celle
Que je veux c'est vous,certain
Mademoiselle, may I ask for your hand in marriage? Yes, it may be a bit early, but I am certain that you are the one I want.
J'ai pris tant de caravelles
Traversé tant de cargos
J'ai dans la gorge un oiseau
Qui ne vit que pour vos ailes
I have taken so many ships and crossed so many cargos. There is a bird in my throat that lives only for your wings.
Lorsque maman a souri
Je m' suis fait tout p'tit
Et quand ils firent l'amour
J'ai fermé les yeux
J'ai fait le sourd.
When Mama smiled, I felt small, and when they made love, I closed my eyes and pretended not to hear.
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS DU CHIFFRE NEUF
Written by: Eric CHEVALIER, Claude NOUGARO, YVAN CASSAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind