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).

Nous Voici
Claude Nougaro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

C'est pas l'moment, non,
C'est pas le moment de douter
De douter de soi
C'est pas l'moment, non,
C'est pas l'moment d'crier maman
Où est passée ma voix
Mais c'est l'moment, oui,
C'est le moment de vous donner

Le meilleur de moi
Enfants d'la batt'rie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Nous voici, vous voilà
Vas y batteur
Locomotive d'or mets nous sur le bon rail
Et vous, les cuivres bleus, ouvrez votre éventail
Quant à vous, les claviers, percez le soupirail
De tout's les harmonies
En l'honneur de la vie
Car nous voici, là, si !
Et vous les roads
Qui avez déchargé le camion de vingt tonnes
Pour que lumière soit et que musique sonne
Tous tendus pour grandir ma petite personne
Ah ! je vous aime roads
Et je veux faire pleuvoir
Du bonheur dans le noir
Sur tous ceux qui sont là

Car nous voici
Et vous voilà...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Claude Nougaro's song Nous Voici are about seizing the moment and giving your best to the world, especially in times of doubt and uncertainty. The singer encourages his bandmates, referred to as "enfants de la batterie" (children of the drum), to give their all and make the most of the opportunity to perform. He acknowledges the importance of every member of the group, from the golden locomotive drummer to the blue brass players and the keyboardists who add to the harmonies. The roles of the "roads," the people who unload the truck and make the show possible, are also acknowledged with gratitude.

The lyrics have a sense of urgency, calling on the band to act now and not let doubt or fear hold them back. The phrase "le jour de gloire est arrivé" (the day of glory has arrived) emphasizes the importance of this moment and the potential for greatness. The last lines reflect the singer's desire to spread joy and happiness with his music, recognizing that everyone in the audience is there to experience something special.

Nous VoiciClaude Nougaro Lyrics

Nous Voici
Claude Nougaro Lyrics