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.
Les Sédiments
Françoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Même s'il n'est pas facile d'y croire
J'aimerais je voudrais
Ne plus jamais te voir dans le désespoir
Et quand tu retiens de l'histoire
Le chant du cygne, les chansons tristes
N'oublie pas souviens-toi
Tu penses au sud de l'Italie
Il est une île où l'on oublie les souvenirs
Six pieds sous terre mais il faut revenir
Il avançait si péniblement
Il en voulait même au firmament
Il avançait si péniblement
D'où vient ce sentiment?
J'ai l'idée qu'une fois dans le noir
Quand tu es là, quand tu es lasse
Cette lumière n'est qu'à toi
Mais ton soleil hélas n'est que ta douleur
Ce que l'on fait n'est pas anodin
Ce qu'on omet, ça c'est certain
Tu ne fais rien donc tu n'es rien
Ce n'est pas un destin
Il avançait si péniblement
Qu'il en voulait même au firmament
Il avançait si péniblement
D'où vient ce sentiment?
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
D'où vient ces sédiments?
Comme il y a toujours un espoir
Que le pire n'est pas pour ce soir
Je voudrais j'aimerais
À tout jamais te voir dans une autre histoire
Il avançait si péniblement
Qu'il accusait même le firmament
Il avançait si péniblement
D'où vient ce sentiment?
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
D'où vient ces sédiments?
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
L'amour trouve ses enfants
The lyrics of "Les Sédiments" by Françoise Hardy convey a sense of hopelessness and the desire to move on from a state of despair. The opening lines express that there is no longer any hope, although it may not be easy to believe. The singer wishes to never see the person they are addressing in a state of despair again.
The next verse talks about the importance of remembering the sad songs and swansongs of their past, as they serve as a reminder that love will find them even in the depths of darkness. The mention of the south of Italy and an island where memories are forgotten suggests a longing to escape and start over. However, it is also implied that inevitably, one must return to reality.
The repeated line "Il avançait si péniblement" (He advanced so painfully) suggests that someone is struggling to move forward or progress in their life. There is even some resentment towards the heavens for making it difficult for them. The singer wonders where this feeling comes from, possibly questioning the source of their own emotional state.
The following verse speaks of a moment in the darkness when one is tired, and a light shines only for them, but it is overshadowed by their own pain. The lyricist suggests that actions are not insignificant and omissions have consequences. By doing nothing, one becomes nothing; it is not a predetermined fate.
The final lines of the song explore the possibility of hope, suggesting that maybe the worst is not happening tonight. The singer expresses the desire to see the person they are addressing in a different story, indicating a longing for a positive change. The repetition of "Il avançait si péniblement" reinforces the struggle and asks once again where this feeling comes from.
The closing lines, "L'amour trouve ses enfants" (Love finds its children), acknowledge that despite the hardships and struggles depicted throughout the song, love has the power to heal and transform. This line serves as a reminder that love can still bring hope and new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
Puisqu'il n'est plus question d'espoir
Since there is no longer any hope
Même s'il n'est pas facile d'y croire
Even though it's not easy to believe
J'aimerais je voudrais
I would like, I wish
Ne plus jamais te voir dans le désespoir
To never see you in despair again
Et quand tu retiens de l'histoire
And when you remember from the story
Le chant du cygne, les chansons tristes
The swan song, the sad songs
N'oublie pas souviens-toi
Don't forget, remember
L'amour te trouvera même au fond du noir
Love will find you even in the darkest times
Tu penses au sud de l'Italie
You think about the south of Italy
Il est une île où l'on oublie les souvenirs
There is an island where memories are forgotten
Six pieds sous terre mais il faut revenir
Six feet underground but you must come back
Il avançait si péniblement
He was moving so painfully
Il en voulait même au firmament
He even blamed the sky
D'où vient ce sentiment?
Where does this feeling come from?
J'ai l'idée qu'une fois dans le noir
I have the idea that once in the dark
Quand tu es là, quand tu es lasse
When you are there, when you are tired
Cette lumière n'est qu'à toi
This light belongs only to you
Mais ton soleil hélas n'est que ta douleur
But sadly, your sun is only your pain
Ce que l'on fait n'est pas anodin
What we do is not insignificant
Ce qu'on omet, ça c'est certain
What we omit, that is certain
Tu ne fais rien donc tu n'es rien
You do nothing, therefore you are nothing
Ce n'est pas un destin
It's not a destiny
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
D'où vient ces sédiments?
Where do these sediments come from?
Comme il y a toujours un espoir
As there is always hope
Que le pire n'est pas pour ce soir
That the worst is not for tonight
Je voudrais j'aimerais
I would like, I wish
À tout jamais te voir dans une autre histoire
To forever see you in another story
Il accusait même le firmament
He even accused the sky
L'amour trouve ses enfants
Love finds its children
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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