He was born in La Tuque, Quebec from a family of pioneers in 1914, sixth in a family of eleven children. He began his studies at the University of Ottawa but was forced to stop due to the Depression.
Leclerc worked at various jobs before taking jobs as a radio announcer in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières from 1934 to 1937. In 1939, he began working as a writer at Radio-Canada in Montreal, developing scripts for radio dramas, including Je me souviens. He performed some of his earliest songs there. He also acted in various dramas, including Un Homme et son péché. He published a number of his scripts and founded a performing company which presented his plays through Quebec.
In 1950, he was discovered by Paris impresario, Jacques Canetti, and performed his songs in France to great success. He signed a recording contract with Polydor Records. He returned to Quebec in 1953. In 1958, he received the top award of the Académie Charles-Cros in France for his second album. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1971, the National Order of Quebec in 1985 and became a Chevalier of the French Légion d'honneur in 1986.
He died in his sleep on the Île d'Orléans in 1988. A monument in his memory was constructed there in 1989.
Leclerc played a major role in revitalising the Quebec folk song ("chanson") tradition. He also was a strong voice for Quebec nationalism.
Various parks, roads and schools in Quebec that have been named in his honour. The Felix Awards, given to Quebec recording artists, are named after him. In 2000, the Government of Canada honoured him with his image on a postage stamp.
Contumace
Félix Leclerc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avec le vent, les petits oiseaux et la forêt
Le soir venu à ses enfants il racontait
Ce qu'il avait appris là-haut sur les galets
Un beau matin, comme dans son champ, près du marais
Avec son chien, en sifflotant, il s'engageait
Deux hommes armés à collet blanc lui touchent le dos
" Monsieur, monsieur, vous êtes sous arrêt
Parc' que vous philosophez
Suivez, monsieur, en prison vous venez
Pour philosopher apprenez
Qu'il faut d'abord la permission
Des signatures et des raisons
Un diplôme d'au moins une maison spécialisée..."
Ti-Jean Latour, à bicyclette, un soir de mai
Se dirigeait, le cœur en fête, chez son aimée
Et il chantait à pleins poumons une chanson
Bien inconnue dans les maisons d' publication
Mes deux zélés de tout à l'heure passant par là
Entendent chanter l'homme dont le cœur gaiement s'en va
Sortent leur fusil, le mettent en joue sans hésiter
Et lui commencent ce discours pas très sensé
" Ti-Jean, Ti-Jean, te voilà bien mal pris
Parce que tu chantes sans permis
As-tu ta carte ? Fais-tu partie de la charte ?
Tu vois bien, mon Ti-Jean Latour
Faut qu' tu comparaisses à la cour
Apprends que pour d'venir artiste
Faut d'abord passer par la liste des approuvés... "
Et en prison Ti-Jean Latour et l'habitant
Sont enfermés à double tour pendant deux ans
Puis, quand enfin l'autorité les libéra
Écoutez bien mesdames, messieurs, ce qu'elle trouva:
Un homme savant et un compositeur
Heureux, grands et seigneurs...
On les pria d'accepter des honneurs
Mais l'habitant en rigolant
S'enfuit en courant dans son champ
Pendant qu'à bicyclette Ti-Jean
Reprit sa route en chantonnant tout comme avant...
The lyrics of Félix Leclerc's song "Contumace" portrays a society where freedom of thought and artistic expression is suppressed by the state. The song describes two separate incidents where individuals, an inhabitant of Île d'Orléans and Ti-Jean Latour, are arrested and imprisoned for the simple acts of philosophizing and singing, respectively. In both cases, two men in white collars approach them and politely, yet forcibly, arrest them for their actions without any judge, jury, or trial. They are then thrown into prison where they are locked up for two years. The authorities eventually release them and offer them honors, but the inhabitant chooses to run off into his field, while Ti-Jean Latour continues on his way, singing as he was before.
The song can be interpreted as a critique of the oppressive nature of the state in the 1950s, where freedom of expression was limited, and the authorities had a tight grip on social and political life. Through this song, Leclerc calls for individual liberty, the importance of free thought, and artistic expression, which are essential elements of a democratic society. The song is a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and a salute to the power of individualism.
Line by Line Meaning
Un habitant d' l'Île d'Orléans philosophait
A resident of Île d'Orléans was contemplating life
Avec le vent, les petits oiseaux et la forêt
With the wind, the little birds, and the forest
Le soir venu à ses enfants il racontait
In the evening, he would tell his children
Ce qu'il avait appris là-haut sur les galets
What he had learned up on the pebbles
Un beau matin, comme dans son champ, près du marais
One beautiful morning, in his field near the marsh
Avec son chien, en sifflotant, il s'engageait
With his dog and a tune, he set off
Deux hommes armés à collet blanc lui touchent le dos
Two armed men in white collars approached him from behind
Très galamment, en s'excusant, lui disent ces mots
Very politely and apologetically, they said these words
" Monsieur, monsieur, vous êtes sous arrêt
"Sir, sir, you are under arrest
Parc' que vous philosophez
Because you are philosophizing
Suivez, monsieur, en prison vous venez
Follow us, sir, you are going to prison
Pour philosopher apprenez
To philosophize, you must first learn
Qu'il faut d'abord la permission
That first, you need permission
Des signatures et des raisons
The signatures and reasons of others
Un diplôme d'au moins une maison spécialisée..."
And a diploma from at least one reputable institution."
Ti-Jean Latour, à bicyclette, un soir de mai
Ti-Jean Latour, on his bicycle, one May evening
Se dirigeait, le cœur en fête, chez son aimée
Headed joyfully towards his beloved
Et il chantait à pleins poumons une chanson
And he sang his heart out
Bien inconnue dans les maisons d' publication
Entirely unknown in publishing houses
Mes deux zélés de tout à l'heure passant par là
My two zealous acquaintances from earlier came by
Entendent chanter l'homme dont le cœur gaiement s'en va
Hearing Ti-Jean's happy heart, they turn their heads
Sortent leur fusil, le mettent en joue sans hésiter
They retrieve their rifles and aim without hesitation
Et lui commencent ce discours pas très sensé
And begin this nonsensical speech
" Ti-Jean, Ti-Jean, te voilà bien mal pris
"Ti-Jean, Ti-Jean, you are in big trouble
Parce que tu chantes sans permis
Because you are singing without permission
As-tu ta carte ? Fais-tu partie de la charte ?
Do you have your card? Are you part of the charter?
Tu vois bien, mon Ti-Jean Latour
You see, my Ti-Jean Latour
Faut qu' tu comparaisses à la cour
You must appear before the court
Apprends que pour d'venir artiste
Learn that to become an artist
Faut d'abord passer par la liste des approuvés... "
You must first be approved by the list."
Et en prison Ti-Jean Latour et l'habitant
And so Ti-Jean Latour and the resident were both placed in prison
Sont enfermés à double tour pendant deux ans
Locked up tight for two long years
Puis, quand enfin l'autorité les libéra
And finally, when the authorities released them
Écoutez bien mesdames, messieurs, ce qu'elle trouva:
Listen carefully, ladies and gentlemen, to what they discovered:
Un homme savant et un compositeur
A learned man and a composer
Heureux, grands et seigneurs...
Happy, noble and great...
On les pria d'accepter des honneurs
They were asked to accept honors
Mais l'habitant en rigolant
But the resident, laughing,
S'enfuit en courant dans son champ
Fled quickly to his fields
Pendant qu'à bicyclette Ti-Jean
While Ti-Jean on his bicycle
Reprit sa route en chantonnant tout comme avant...
Resumed his journey, singing as before...
Contributed by Riley G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jacques Thériault
Excellente chanson !
jean pierre esquiague
Chanson d'actualité..... à écouter jusqu'au bout...
Liberté Chérie
je ne vous le fais pas dire ..