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.
Un Petit Sourire Un Petit Mot
Françoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et à qui tu ne répondais rien
Maintenant que c'est à toi le tour
C'est normal qu'ils te laissent dans ton coin
Les gens qui avaient besoin de toi
D'un petit sourire d'un petit mot
Tu planais, tu ne les voyais pas
Tu planais, ton amour était rose
Tu planais ne voulant rien savoir
Rien du monde, ni des gens, ni des choses
Et tu restes avec tes idées noires
Les gens ils ont tous leurs petits drames
Ça ne leur laisse pas beaucoup de temps
Pour s'occuper de tes états d'âmes
Garde-les pour toi, fais comme avant
Oui, toi qui ne te souciais de rien
Qui trouvais les gens bêtes et pas beaux
Tu sauras que ça peut faire du bien
Un petit sourire, un petit mot
Un petit sourire, un petit mot
The lyrics of Françoise Hardy's song "Un petit sourire un petit mot" delve into the idea of a person who used to ignore the pleas of those who needed his/her help, but now that he/she is in need, the same people who used to turn to him/her have all deserted him/her. The lyrics are particularly poignant as they highlight the paradoxical nature of human behavior - how we often take loved ones for granted and show little regard for them until we need them ourselves.
The first two lines describe how the person was previously ignored when he/she was being called upon by others. It is almost as if the person was too wrapped up in his/her own world to care about anyone else. However, now that the person is in need of help, it is only fair that he/she be left alone to deal with his/her own problems - an attitude that is in paradoxical contrast to the person's past attitude.
The next set of lyrics describe how the person used to be aloof and unapproachable, with little regard for the people he/she should have been caring about. The line "tu planais" which means "you were flying" in French, is a metaphor for the person's state of mind, where he/she was so caught up in his/her own world that he/she was oblivious to the people around him/her. The final set of lyrics touch upon the idea that everyone has their own problems and dramas to deal with, and there is little time to spare for someone who never showed any concern for others in the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Un petit sourire un petit mot" are reflective of the human psyche and the fickleness of human behavior. It highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, and how these virtues are mostly appreciated when they are extended towards us.
Line by Line Meaning
Les gens qui t'appelaient au secours
Those who once called for your help
Et à qui tu ne répondais rien
To whom you didn't respond
Maintenant que c'est à toi le tour
Now that it's your turn
C'est normal qu'ils te laissent dans ton coin
It's normal for them to leave you alone
Les gens qui avaient besoin de toi
Those who needed you
D'un petit sourire d'un petit mot
For a little smile, a little word
Tu planais, tu ne les voyais pas
You were in your own world, not seeing them
C'est normal qu'ils te tournent le dos
It's normal for them to turn their back on you
Tu planais, ton amour était rose
You were flying high, lost in love
Tu planais ne voulant rien savoir
You were ignorant, not wanting to know
Rien du monde, ni des gens, ni des choses
Nothing of the world, nor of the people, nor of things
Et tu restes avec tes idées noires
And you're left with your dark thoughts
Les gens ils ont tous leurs petits drames
People all have their small dramas
Ça ne leur laisse pas beaucoup de temps
That doesn't leave them much time
Pour s'occuper de tes états d'âmes
To take care of your moods
Garde-les pour toi, fais comme avant
Keep them to yourself, do as before
Oui, toi qui ne te souciais de rien
Yes, you who didn't care for anything
Qui trouvais les gens bêtes et pas beaux
Who found people dumb and not beautiful
Tu sauras que ça peut faire du bien
You'll know that it can do good
Un petit sourire, un petit mot
A little smile, a little word
Un petit sourire, un petit mot
A little smile, a little word
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Francoise Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind