Eddy Mitchell (born Claude Moine July 3, 1942, Paris) is a French singer an… Read Full Bio ↴Eddy Mitchell (born Claude Moine July 3, 1942, Paris) is a French singer and actor. He began his career in the late 1950s, with the group Les Chaussettes Noires (The Black Socks), taking his name from the American expatriate tough-guy actor Eddie Constantine (later the star of Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville). The band performed at the Parisian nightclub Le Golf Drouot before signing to Barclay Records and finding almost instant success; in 1961 it sold two million records.

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.

Pauvre Immigrant
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics

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Pauvre immigrant,
A qui le vent
Offre un mirage
Illuminé

Pauvre immigrant,
Tu vois des gens,
Des fleurs, des mages,

Des champs dorés

Mais derrière l'Olympe des Dieux
Rien n'est réel à tes yeux

Pauvre immigrant,
Ton souffle court
Marque tes jours,
Le grand silence
Vient te chercher

Mais derrière l'Olympe des Dieux
Rien n'est réel à tes yeux

Pauvre immigrant

Overall Meaning

, which translates to "Poor Immigrant," is a song about the harsh realities faced by immigrants who leave their homes in search of a better life. Eddy Mitchell uses vivid imagery to describe the struggles faced by those who have nothing but hope and dreams to rely on. The wind offers a mirage of a better life, one that is illuminated and full of promise. The immigrant sees people, flowers, magicians, and golden fields, but behind the Olympian gods, nothing is real to them. Mitchell acknowledges the difficulties immigrants face in adjusting to a new life, both physically and emotionally. They are cut off from their family, their heritage, and their sense of belonging. They are reminded of their mortality by their shortened breath and the looming presence of silence.

This song perfectly captures the feelings of many immigrants who try to make a life far from their country of origin. They face a wide range of challenges, from learning a new language and culture to adapting to their new surroundings. They must grapple with the loss of connections to their home and struggle to find a sense of identity in a foreign land. The song is a powerful reminder that migration not only involves a physical journey but also an emotional and psychological one.

Line by Line Meaning

Pauvre immigrant
The song is addressing a poor immigrant

A qui le vent Offre un mirage Illuminé
The immigrant is offered the illusion of a bright, shining life like a mirage in the desert

Tu vois des gens, Des fleurs, des mages, Des champs dorés
The immigrant sees people, flowers, magicians, and golden fields - all symbols of a better life

Mais derrière l’Olympe des Dieux Rien n’est réel à tes yeux
However, the immigrant realizes that behind this facade, nothing is real and life is still a struggle

Ton souffle court Marque tes jours, Le grand silence Vient te chercher
The struggles of the immigrant are taking a toll on them, with their breaths becoming shorter and the silence of a difficult life creeping in

Mais derrière l’Olympe des Dieux Rien n’est réel à tes yeux
Once again, the immigrant recognizes that there is no escape from the harsh reality of their life

Contributed by Lucas V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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