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.
Was mach' ich ohne Dich
Françoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
deine Abschiedstexte waren gut
ratlos und perplex nur dachte ich
was mach ich ohne dich
stets war mein Komplex du bist zu schön
Charm hast du für sechs, ach was, für zehn
liebt denn so was exklusiv nur mich
was mach ich ohne dich
wie einsam und verloren ich bin
nein, du hast schon längst
eine Andere im Sinn
gib mir keinen Extrakuss jetzt mehr
der nur noch Reflexbewegung wär
ratlos und perplex nur frag ich mich
was mach ich ohne dich
was mach ich ohne dich
all die Nächte mit dir
voll von Glück bis zum Morgengrauen
die und dich stahl mir
eine andere Frau
diese Dame X, die dich mir nimmt
fliegt auf deine Tricks wie ich, bestimmt
dann als Dame ex sagt sie wie ich
was mach ich ohne dich
was mach ich ohne dich
The song "Was mach' ich ohne Dich" by Françoise Hardy is a contemplation of a breakup and the emotions that come with it. The lyrics recount the end of a relationship, most likely due to infidelity, as the former lover has found another woman. The singer expresses feeling lost and perplexed without her ex-partner, despite his flaws and tricks.
The opening lines, "After two cognacs, you gained the courage/ Your goodbye texts were good," indicate that the breakup was initiated by the ex-lover. The singer acknowledges that her now-former partner had flaws, but she was willing to overlook them because of his charm and beauty. She wonders if anyone else can love him as exclusively as she could.
The singer then reveals her feelings of loneliness and heartbreak, as well as her suspicions of her ex's new love interest, Lady X. She suggests that Lady X may soon realize how easily her ex was able to deceive her, just as he had done to the singer. Despite her pain, the singer recognizes that any physical contact with her ex will only be out of habit and not love.
Overall, "Was mach' ich ohne Dich" is a poignant reflection on a relationship that had ended, but still lingers in the singer's mind.
Line by Line Meaning
nach zwei Cognacs ex bekamst du Mut
After two cognacs, you gained courage, my ex
deine Abschiedstexte waren gut
Your goodbye messages were good
ratlos und perplex nur dachte ich
All I could do was think, puzzled and lost
was mach ich ohne dich
What am I going to do without you?
stets war mein Komplex du bist zu schön
My complex was always that you're too beautiful
Charm hast du für sechs, ach was, für zehn
You have charm for six, oh wait, for ten
liebt denn so was exklusiv nur mich
Does something so exclusive only love me?
ob du daran denkst
Do you even think about it?
wie einsam und verloren ich bin
How lonely and lost I am?
nein, du hast schon längst
No, you have already
eine Andere im Sinn
Another person in mind
gib mir keinen Extrakuss jetzt mehr
Don't give me any more extra kisses
der nur noch Reflexbewegung wär
Which are only reflex movements
ratlos und perplex nur frag ich mich
All I can do is wonder, puzzled and lost
was mach ich ohne dich
What am I going to do without you?
all die Nächte mit dir
All those nights with you
voll von Glück bis zum Morgengrauen
Full of happiness until dawn
die und dich stahl mir
Which a different woman stole from me, including you
eine andere Frau
Another woman
diese Dame X, die dich mir nimmt
This lady X who takes you from me
fliegt auf deine Tricks wie ich, bestimmt
She'll figure you out just like I did
dann als Dame ex sagt sie wie ich
Then, as an ex-lady, she'll say like I do
was mach ich ohne dich
What am I going to do without you?
was mach ich ohne dich
What am I going to do without you?
Contributed by Christian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rob BR
Du bist zu schön, Françoise......
陳永杰
Bravo
rainer debusmann
Top
Alan Hawkshaw
Eindeutig die beste Chanson Sängerin ! Weshalb aber Francoise Hardy persönlich bis HEUTE die deutschen Versionen nicht mag, kann wirklich NIEMAND verstehen ! + Denn es sind so schön gefühlvolle und fast schon "zerbrechliche" Lieder, die solch wertvollen Tiefgang und Sinn haben !
Nadezda Patusova
Chere Francoise