Hardy signed her first contract with the record label Vogue in November 1961. In April 1962, shortly after finishing school, her first album, "Oh oh Chéri", appeared, with the title song written by Johnny Hallyday's writing duo. The flip side of the record, "Tous les garçons et les filles" became a huge success, which sold 2 million copies. She had long hair and usually wore jeans with a leather jacket, while accompanying her songs on the guitar.
She sang in English, Spanish, and German occasionally. In 1963, she represented Monaco in the Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson with "L'amour s'en va" and emerged in fifth place. In 1968, she received the Grand Prix du Disque Académie Charles Cros.
In 1981, she married her long-time companion Jacques Dutronc, with whom she had already had a son (Thomas Dutronc) in 1973. In May 2000, she had a comeback with the album "Clair Obscur". Her son played the guitar, and her husband sang the duet "Puisque vous partez en voyage". Iggy Pop and Etienne Daho participated, as well. She currently lives near Paris.
In 2006 she released a new duets album entitled "Parenthèses" which included a song with her son Thomas.
In 2021, Hardy announced that her health had worsened and that she would not be able to sing again owing to the effects of cancer therapy.
La Vérité des choses
Françoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
la poussière qui s’amoncèle
oublier
les histoires personnelles
regarder le ciel
aller vers l’essentiel...
balayer
un avenir pas très rose
la vérité des choses
démêler les causes
des questions qui se posent...
dans la nuit d’été
partie en fumée
sous une pluie d’étoiles
sentir s’éloigner
les images qui font mal
lâcher à jamais
les années triviales
voir enfin émerger un calme
idéal...
balayer
toutes les erreurs de jeunesse
cultiver
un début de sagesse...
la beauté du geste
est la seule qui nous reste...
sous la voie lactée
dans l’air parfumé
et la douceur du soir
sentir s’envoler
les tristesses, les déboires
entendre s’élever
un air de guitare...
comme un appel, comme un espoir
qui repart...
la vérité des choses
démêler les causes
des questions...
la vérité des choses
démêler les causes
des questions qui se posent...
balayer
la poussière qui s’amoncèle
oublier
les histoires personnelles
démêler les causes
des questions qui se posent...
la vérité des choses...
The song "La Vérité des Choses" by Françoise Hardy speaks about the process of letting go of the past and focusing on the present, and the importance of deciphering the truth behind life's complexities. The first stanza speaks about the act of sweeping away the accumulation of dust, both physically and metaphorically. It is about leaving behind personal stories and focusing on what is essential, such as looking up at the sky. The second stanza talks about the future, which is not looking good, but the singer tries to clear the truth and untangle the causes of the questions that arise in her mind.
The chorus speaks about finding peace and tranquillity, particularly during summer nights under a sky full of stars. The lyrics suggest that one can let go of painful memories and experiences, find a sense of calm and idealism, and focus on the beauty of life. The third verse speaks of the need to sweep away past mistakes and mistakes made in youth to start cultivating wisdom. The beauty of action is the only thing that remains as we grow old. The final verse suggests the beauty of the moment, the air scent, and the sound of music played on a guitar.
Overall, the song emphasizes the important aspects of life and releasing oneself of personal baggage, choosing to focus on the beauty life offers. It highlights the importance of truth and cultivating wisdom and letting go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
balayer
Sweep away
la poussière qui s’amoncèle
The accumulated dust
oublier
Forget
les histoires personnelles
Personal stories
regarder le ciel
Look at the sky
aller vers l’essentiel...
Go towards the essential...
balayer
Sweep away
un avenir pas très rose
A not-so-bright future
dégager
Uncover
la vérité des choses
The truth of things
démêler les causes
Untangle the causes
des questions qui se posent...
Of the questions that arise...
dans la nuit d’été
In the summer night
partie en fumée
Gone up in smoke
sous une pluie d’étoiles
Under a rain of stars
sentir s’éloigner
Feel moving away
les images qui font mal
The painful images
lâcher à jamais
Let go forever
les années triviales
The trivial years
voir enfin émerger un calme
Finally see a calm emerge
idéal...
Ideal...
balayer
Sweep away
toutes les erreurs de jeunesse
All the mistakes of youth
cultiver
Cultivate
un début de sagesse...
A beginning of wisdom...
la beauté du geste
The beauty of the gesture
est la seule qui nous reste...
Is the only one we have left...
sous la voie lactée
Under the Milky Way
dans l’air parfumé
In the scented air
et la douceur du soir
And the sweetness of evening
sentir s’envoler
Feel flying away
les tristesses, les déboires
The sorrows, the setbacks
entendre s’élever
Hear rising
un air de guitare...
A guitar tune...
comme un appel, comme un espoir
Like a call, like a hope
qui repart...
That departs...
la vérité des choses
The truth of things
démêler les causes
Untangle the causes
des questions...
Of the questions...
la vérité des choses
The truth of things
démêler les causes
Untangle the causes
des questions qui se posent...
Of the questions that arise...
balayer
Sweep away
la poussière qui s’amoncèle
The accumulated dust
oublier
Forget
les histoires personnelles
Personal stories
démêler les causes
Untangle the causes
des questions qui se posent...
Of the questions that arise...
la vérité des choses...
The truth of things...
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.