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.
Francis
Félix Leclerc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
T'effraies les enfants sur la rue
Francis, ton chapeau
A l'air d'une env'loppe de coco
Francis, où couches-tu?
Dans l'étable comme le p'tit Jésus
Francis, t'es tout nu
Pends-toi et qu'on n'en parle plus!
Tu peux toujours manger du pain
Y'en a plein, tu vois bien
Aux vitrines des grands magasins
Francis, si tu veux
Tu vas patienter encore un peu...
Bientôt le printemps
Viendra parfumer tes vêtements
Tu vois bien qu'il se prépare
Derrière la montagne, il démarre
Francis, tous les oiseaux du monde
Viendront te chanter une ronde
Prends courage, Francis...
The song "Francis" by Félix Leclerc depicts the life of a homeless man named Francis. The first stanza addresses the way Francis appears to other people, frightening children with his unkempt appearance and rumpled hat. The second stanza suggests that Francis has no place to sleep other than a stable, a direct reference to the Christian story of the birth of Jesus. The third stanza goes further, suggesting that Francis has nothing but the clothes on his back. The final stanza offers some hope, suggesting that spring is coming and Francis will be able to release himself from his bleak existence.
Leclerc’s use of Christian imagery throughout the song is noteworthy. The homeless man referred to as Francis is described as sleeping in a stable similar to baby Jesus, and his eventual rescue is compared to his own personal resurrection. The song also highlights the disparity between those who have a lot and those who have nothing. Through the line, “…you can always eat bread,” Leclerc points out that the rich have no concern for those who are starving.
Line by Line Meaning
Francis, où vas-tu?
Francis, where are you going?
T'effraies les enfants sur la rue
You frighten the children on the street
Francis, ton chapeau
Francis, your hat
A l'air d'une env'loppe de coco
Looks like a cocoon envelop
Francis, où couches-tu?
Francis, where do you sleep?
Dans l'étable comme le p'tit Jésus
In the stable like the little Jesus
Francis, t'es tout nu
Francis, you're all naked
Pends-toi et qu'on n'en parle plus!
Hang yourself and let's not talk about it anymore!
Francis, si t'as faim
Francis, if you're hungry
Tu peux toujours manger du pain
You can always eat bread
Y'en a plein, tu vois bien
There's plenty, you see
Aux vitrines des grands magasins
In the windows of big stores
Francis, si tu veux
Francis, if you want
Tu vas patienter encore un peu...
You will have to wait a little longer...
Bientôt le printemps
Soon, spring
Viendra parfumer tes vêtements
Will come to perfume your clothes
Tu vois bien qu'il se prépare
You see it's getting ready
Derrière la montagne, il démarre
Behind the mountain, it's starting
Francis, tous les oiseaux du monde
Francis, all the birds in the world
Viendront te chanter une ronde
Will come sing you a round dance
Prends courage, Francis...
Take courage, Francis...
Writer(s): FELIX LECLERC
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rosalabel8718
chanson moins connue de Félix ... tout son répertoire est excellent, bien que très différent parfois ! Chui française et depuis que j'ai entendu cet artiste pour la première fois je l'écoute souvent avec un grand plaisir renouvelé !
@velis8417
Excellente chanson, en plus elle porte mon nom !! ahah
@zahiaait5550
Il avait un fils qui s'appelle Francis...
@velis8417
@zahia ait Ah bien je ne savais pas ahah, merci pour l'information
@memoriesong
C était mon enfance aux chansons de Félix que mon père écoutait
@igorlinvincible
Seulement 9 visionnements pour une telle oeuvre ?? Je n'en reviens pas
@danieltremblay8279
Je ne suis pas surpris car c'est bon .....