Heavily influenced by American rock & roll, Mitchell (who went solo in 1963) has often recorded outside France, at first in London, but later in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Bob Graham were among the British session musicians who regularly supported him in London.
La Ballade De Bill Brillantine
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nerfs tendus toutes griffes rentrées
Son regard me donnait froid dans le dos
Il semblait guetter
Les gens du quartier
Cherchant la violence
A travers un mot.
Il rôdait aux sorties des cinés
Il faisait un très grand numéro
Adossé au mur
Il jouait les durs
Et son cinéma
Ne sonnait pas faux
Bill Brillantine
Je n'ai pas oublié
Bill Brillantine
Et ses cheveux lustrés
Toujours huilés
Bill Brillantine
Où es-tu donc passé
Mais que t'est-il arrivé ?
Bill Brillantine
Bill Brillantine
Maintenant tes cheveux sont tombés
Ton blouson est rangé au grenier
Du passé il reste quelques photos
Fini l'aventure
Le gang des voitures
Avec ton mariage
Est tombé à l'eau
Bill Brillantine
Je n'ai pas oublié
Bill Brillantine
Et tes cheveux lustrés
Toujours huilés
Bill Brillantine
Où es-tu donc passé
Mais que t'est-il arrivé ?
Bill Brillantine
Eh ! Tu m'prêtes ta Vespa ?
Non, j'peux pas
J'vais à une suprise-partie ce soir
Oh tu m'emmènes ?
Non, non, non, non, non, non, Bill, non
Tu n'fais pas partie de la bande, Bill
Non, non, tu n'fais pas partie de la bande, Bill
Non Bill, au revoir Bill, au revoir Bill...
Tu n'fais pas partie de la bande, Bill...
In Eddy Mitchell's song "La Ballade De Bill Brillantine," the singer describes a tough and intimidating character, Bill Brillantine. He walked around like a lost cat with his nerves on edge, looking for trouble and violence. His gaze was unsettling, and he lurked around the exits of movie theaters in his worn blue jeans, playing the role of a tough guy, and intimidating others. But the singer seems to have a nostalgic fondness for Bill, remembering him with his slick, well-oiled hair and leather jacket, and acknowledging that he was quite the showman.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that Bill is no longer the same man he once was. His hair has fallen out, his jacket is stored away, and he has given up his life of adventure and excitement, settling down into marriage. The singer is curious about what has happened to Bill and where he has gone. The song ends with a conversation between the singer and Bill, where the singer denies Bill's request to borrow his Vespa, telling him he is not part of the gang anymore.
"La Ballade De Bill Brillantine" is a poignant tribute to a character who once represented a certain freedom and rebellion, but has now moved on to a more mundane life. It shows the melancholy that exists in nostalgia and the inevitability of time and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Il marchait comme un chat égaré
He walked like a lost cat, unsure and disoriented.
Nerfs tendus toutes griffes rentrées
With tense nerves and retracted claws, ready for any conflict.
Son regard me donnait froid dans le dos
His gaze gave me chills down my spine, exuding a sense of danger.
Il semblait guetter
He appeared to be watching and waiting, anticipating something.
Les gens du quartier
The people of the neighborhood.
Cherchant la violence
Looking for violence as a means of expression or release.
A travers un mot
Through a single word, action or gesture.
Il portait des blue-jeans délavés
He wore worn-out blue jeans.
Il rôdait aux sorties des cinés
He hung around the exits of movie theaters.
Il faisait un très grand numéro
He put on a big show, trying to impress or intimidate others.
Adossé au mur
Leaned against the wall.
Il jouait les durs
He acted tough and strong, boasting and showing off.
Et son cinéma
And his fake performance or act.
Ne sonnait pas faux
Did not sound fake, seemed believable and convincing.
Bill Brillantine
The singer of the song, a tough and edgy character.
Je n'ai pas oublié
I have not forgotten.
Et ses cheveux lustrés
And his shiny, greased hair.
Toujours huilés
Always oiled or greased, to appear stylish or cool.
Où es-tu donc passé
Where did you go or disappear to?
Mais que t'est-il arrivé ?
But what happened to you?
Maintenant tes cheveux sont tombés
Now your hair has fallen out or you have gone bald.
Ton blouson est rangé au grenier
Your jacket is stored in the attic, no longer in use or fashionable.
Du passé il reste quelques photos
Only a few pictures remain from the past, memories of a different time.
Fini l'aventure
The adventure is over, the excitement has faded away.
Le gang des voitures
The car gang or group of friends associated with cars.
Avec ton mariage
With your marriage, the carefree days came to an end.
Est tombé à l'eau
Has fallen apart or drifted away.
Eh ! Tu m'prêtes ta Vespa ?
Hey, can I borrow your Vespa?
Non, j'peux pas
No, I can't lend it to you.
J'vais à une suprise-partie ce soir
I'm going to a surprise party tonight.
Oh tu m'emmènes ?
Oh, are you taking me with you?
Non, non, non, non, non, non, Bill, non
No, no, no, no, no, no, Bill, no.
Tu n'fais pas partie de la bande, Bill
You're not part of the gang, Bill.
Non Bill, au revoir Bill, au revoir Bill...
No, Bill, goodbye Bill, goodbye Bill...
Tu n'fais pas partie de la bande, Bill...
You're not part of the gang, Bill...
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.