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.
Les Nouveaux-Nés
Félix Leclerc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que faisait la cloche du village, On lui dit que c′était pour fêter
L'arrivée de l′enfant nouveau-néLe vieux salua le paysage
Et dit: moi, je pars en voyage.
Parti sans adieu, sans bagage, On le trouva au bord d'un marécage
Pieusement couché dans les herbages
Mort et beau comme une image...
Il dormait comme un enfant sage
Les cloches se sont mises à sonner
Pour le vieux qui avait trépasséQui, galamment, sa place avait donnéA l'enfant nouvellement néLes cloches sonnaient en folie
L′entrée d′un mioche en paradis.
Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong
Les cloches sonnaient en folie
L'entrée d′un mioche en paradis.
The lyrics to Félix Leclerc's song Les Nouveaux-Nés tell the story of an elderly man who hears the loud noises of the village bell, and learns that it's ringing to celebrate the birth of a newborn child. The man then bids farewell to the landscape around him and embarks on a journey without any luggage or goodbyes. Eventually, he is found deceased by the side of a swamp, looking peaceful like a sleeping child, with no belongings to his name. In a touching gesture, the village bell then switches its tune from celebrating the newborn to honoring the old man who made way for the new life, with the bells ringing in frenzy for the arrival of the child into the "paradise," as the song describes it.
The song is a powerful commentary on the cycle of life, and how the old must make way for the new, with the bells of life ringing for every milestone, big or small. The old man's journey towards the end of his life also highlights how death can be a peaceful and natural process, giving way to the arrival of new life in turn. The contrast of the vibrant, celebratory bell-ringing and the old man's quiet passing creates a poignant image of the yin and yang of life and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Le vieux écoutait le tapage
An old man listened to the noise
Que faisait la cloche du village,
Which was made by the village bell,
On lui dit que c′était pour fêter
He was told it was to celebrate
L'arrivée de l′enfant nouveau-né
The arrival of a newborn child.
Le vieux salua le paysage
The old man said goodbye to the scenery
Et dit: moi, je pars en voyage.
And said: 'I'm going on a journey.'
Parti sans adieu, sans bagage,
He left without farewell, without luggage,
On le trouva au bord d'un marécage
He was found on the edge of a swamp
Pieusement couché dans les herbages
Reverently lying in the grass
Mort et beau comme une image...
Dead and beautiful as a picture...
Il dormait comme un enfant sage
He slept like a wise child
En route au-dessus des nuages.
On his way above the clouds.
Les cloches se sont mises à sonner
The bells started ringing
Pour le vieux qui avait trépassé
For the old man who had passed away
Qui, galamment, sa place avait donné
Who had gracefully given his place
A l'enfant nouvellement né
To the newly born child
Les cloches sonnaient en folie
The bells rang in madness
L′entrée d′un mioche en paradis.
The entrance of a child into heaven.
Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong
Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, Ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong
Les cloches sonnaient en folie
The bells rang in madness
L'entrée d′un mioche en paradis.
The entrance of a child into heaven.
Writer(s): Felix Leclerc
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.