In the 80s and 90s, he enjoyed popular success singing his own songs, many of which climbed quickly to the top of the French charts of the era. In the 1990s, he sung several titles with Félix Gray.
He was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur in 2009.
Les étangs de Mayenne
Didier Barbelivien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sont toujours aussi beaux pour elle
Dis-moi à Juvigny-sous-Andaine
Fais-tu bien attention à elle pour moi
Elle dit que plus jamais ne reviennent
Ni les chansons ni la peine dis-lui
Que j'écris sur du vélin d'Angouleme
Je l'aime comme une valse d'enfance
Caramel caché sous la langue
Je l'aime
De préau d'école en dimanche
C'est toujours à elle que je pense
Quand meme
Dis-moi est-ce que les gens se souviennent
A quel point elle était belle dis-moi
J'avais caché dessous les tuiles
Nos lettres d'amours inutiles voilà
Elle vit entre la maison et l'étang
Elle n'a plus jamais peur du vent dis-lui
Que j'oublie tous les souvenirs qui m'entrainent
Dans toutes ces gares de la nuit
Je l'aime de tout mon coeur qui balance
Entre la folie et l'absence, je l'aime
Parmi les genets de la lande
Je vois des fleurs qui lui ressemblent
Quand meme
The lyrics to "Les étangs de Mayenne" by Didier Barbelivien are a heartfelt expression of love and longing for someone who is no longer in the singer's life. The mention of the "étangs de Mayenne," which refers to the ponds in the region of Mayenne, serves as a metaphor for the beauty and nostalgia associated with the past relationship. The singer asks if these ponds are still as beautiful for her, indicating that they once shared special moments in this picturesque setting.
The mention of Juvigny-sous-Andaine, a town in France, suggests that the singer and the subject of the song may have had a connection to this place. The singer wonders if the listener is looking after her, implying that the singer still cares deeply for her well-being, despite their separation.
The second verse reveals that the subject of the song believes that their love will never return, and neither will the songs or the pain associated with it. However, the singer contradicts this belief, stating that they write on precious Angoulême vellum, suggesting that their emotions and thoughts about their past love are still present. The contrasting attitudes and perspectives between the two individuals are highlighted, indicating a disconnect in their understanding of the relationship.
The chorus expresses the singer's love for her, comparing it to a childhood waltz, a sweet caramel hidden under the tongue. The singer reminisces about her in various settings, from schoolyards to Sundays, emphasizing that she is always on their mind.
The third verse reflects on how people remember her and her beauty. The singer reveals that they had hidden their love letters under the tiles, implying secrecy and hidden affection. The subject of the song seems to have found a peaceful existence between the house and the pond, no longer fearing the wind. However, the singer admits that they still have memories that lead them to train stations in the night, suggesting that they are haunted by the past.
The bridge describes the intensity and duality of the singer's love for her, as their heart balances between madness and absence. The mention of flowers in the land that resemble her indicates that even in beauty and nature, the singer sees her presence.
Overall, "Les étangs de Mayenne" conveys a bittersweet longing for a lost love, with contrasting emotions and perspectives between the two individuals involved.
Line by Line Meaning
Dis-moi si les étangs de Mayenne
Tell me if the ponds of Mayenne
Sont toujours aussi beaux pour elle
Are still as beautiful for her
Dis-moi à Juvigny-sous-Andaine
Tell me in Juvigny-sous-Andaine
Fais-tu bien attention à elle pour moi
Do you pay close attention to her for me
Elle dit que plus jamais ne reviennent
She says that they will never come back again
Ni les chansons ni la peine dis-lui
Neither the songs nor the sorrow, tell her
Que j'écris sur du vélin d'Angouleme
That I write on Angouleme parchment
Tout le contraire de ce qu'elle dit
The complete opposite of what she says
Je l'aime comme une valse d'enfance
I love her like a childhood waltz
Caramel caché sous la langue
Caramel hidden under the tongue
Je l'aime
I love her
De préau d'école en dimanche
From schoolyard to Sunday
C'est toujours à elle que je pense
It is always her that I think of
Quand meme
Nevertheless
Dis-moi est-ce que les gens se souviennent
Tell me, do people remember
A quel point elle était belle dis-moi
How beautiful she was, tell me
J'avais caché dessous les tuiles
I had hidden beneath the tiles
Nos lettres d'amours inutiles voilà
Our useless love letters, there they are
Elle vit entre la maison et l'étang
She lives between the house and the pond
Elle n'a plus jamais peur du vent dis-lui
She is no longer afraid of the wind, tell her
Que j'oublie tous les souvenirs qui m'entrainent
That I forget all the memories that drag me along
Dans toutes ces gares de la nuit
In all those train stations of the night
Je l'aime de tout mon coeur qui balance
I love her with all my heart that swings
Entre la folie et l'absence, je l'aime
Between madness and absence, I love her
Parmi les genets de la lande
Among the broom of the heath
Je vois des fleurs qui lui ressemblent
I see flowers that resemble her
Quand meme
Nevertheless
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE, EDITIONS DES ALOUETTES
Written by: BARBELIVIEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lauret PHILIPPE
TRÈS BELLE CHANSON SUPER CHANTEUR FÉLICITATION 👍
Bernard Figuiere
De la pure poésie, merci pour votre commentaire, merci pour Didier Barbelivien, bonne année 2021 à vous 😊
Gilles Andrieux
trop belle
Bernard Figuiere
Entièrement d'accord avec vous 😊