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).
Visiteur
Claude Nougaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est beau, applaudis c'est laid, passe ailleurs
Passe sans que tes pas blessent une fleur
Le ciel te le rendra passe en douceur
Les parfums de la terre, les couleurs de l'eau, l'or de l'été
On est prié d'laisser les lieux dans l'état où ils étaient
Passe, passe dans la vie en visiteur
Vois, vois c'est ta vie, sois aussi créateur
Oui, crée, ne fût ce qu'un cri
Et saigne en seigneur
Les parfums de la terre, les couleurs de l'eau, l'or de l'été
On est prié de laisser les lieux dans l'état où ils étaient
In "Visiteur," Claude Nougaro encourages listeners to move through life as visitors, taking in the beauty of the world without causing harm. The first verse asks the visitor to make their way through life gently, without hurting anyone or anything along the way. The second verse encourages the visitor to be a creator and to leave their mark on the world, but to do so in a way that is respectful and thoughtful. The chorus reinforces the idea that life is fleeting and that it is important to appreciate it as a visitor, enjoying the beauty of the world without damaging it.
Nougaro's lyrics suggest that life is both fragile and transient, and that visitors should make the most of their time on earth by living life to the fullest, while also remaining mindful of the impact they have on the world around them. The final line, "On est prié de laisser les lieux dans l'état où ils étaient" (We are asked to leave the places as they were), suggests that visitors should treat the world with respect, leaving it as they found it rather than leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Overall, "Visiteur" is a gentle reminder that life is precious and should be lived with care and consideration, both for oneself and for the world at large.
Line by Line Meaning
Passe, passe dans la vie en visiteur
Live your life as a visitor, moving through it with ease
C'est beau, applaudis c'est laid, passe ailleurs
Appreciate the beauty, ignore the ugliness, and move on
Passe sans que tes pas blessent une fleur
Walk gently, without harming anything along the way
Le ciel te le rendra passe en douceur
In return, the universe will treat you kindly and gently on your journey
Vois, vois c'est ta vie, sois aussi créateur
See that this is your life, and you also have the power to create it
Oui, crée, ne fût ce qu'un cri
Create something, even if it's just a cry or a small expression of yourself
Et saigne en seigneur
Be authentic in your expression, even if it hurts or makes you bleed
Les parfums de la terre, les couleurs de l'eau, l'or de l'été
The scents of the earth, the colors of water, the golden light of summer are all around us
On est prié de laisser les lieux dans l'état où ils étaient
We are asked to leave these places as we found them, respecting and protecting the beauty of the natural world.
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS DU CHIFFRE NEUF
Written by: Aldo ROMANO, Claude NOUGARO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luc Bazzanella
Chansons Nettes: Meilleur album de Nougaro
Alma Pintore
Merci