Francis Bebey (1929–2001) was a Cameroonian artist, musician, and writer. B… Read Full Bio ↴Francis Bebey (1929–2001) was a Cameroonian artist, musician, and writer. Bebey was born in 1929 in Douala, Cameroon. He attended the Sorbonne and Paris, France, and received further education in the United States. In 1957, Bebey moved to Ghana at the invitation of Kwame Nkrumah to all Africans from non-independent territories. Bebey took a job as a broadcaster.

In the early 1960s, Bebey moved to France and started work in the arts, establishing himself as a musician, sculptor, and writer. His most popular novel was Agatha Moudio's Son. His writing and music often cross-fertilised, and he performed a song by that name, as well (Agatha). He also worked as a consultant for UNESCO.

Bebey released his first album in 1969. His music was primarily guitar-based, although he integrated traditional African instruments as well. His style was groundbreaking, merging Cameroonian makossa with classical guitar, jazz, and pop, in a mix that could be intellectual, humorous, or serious. He sang in Duala, English, and French. Bebey had a strong impact on later performers. For example, he gave Manu Dibango his big break when Dibango came to work for him in Paris. Bebey released more than 20 albums over his career. He died in 2001.

Lettre Á Ma Bien-aimée
Francis Bebey Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

L'ennui avec toi
C'est que moi aussi je t'aime
si j'avais pu faire autrement
je t'aurais dit "Adieu"
comme je faisais autrefois, avec d'autres gens
Mais cette fois-ci, tout est différent
Je suis prisonnier de mon amour
car

Maintenant je veux t'aimer, quoi qu'il m'arrive dans la vie
Avec toi je veux rester jusqu'au dernier jour de ma vie.
Autrefois je m'en allais, là où je voulais
quand je voulais, sans rendre de compte à personne.
je disais à tout le monde et je criait à tue-tête: "Je suis un homme libre"
Maos aujourd'hui, je ne peux plus m'en aller comme je veux, ni quand je veux
je suis prisonnier de mon amour.
Cela m'ennuie beaucoup
Mais je suis content, oui je suis content
car vois-tu

Maintenant je peux t'aimer, quoi qu'il m'arrive dans la vie
Avec toi je veux rester jusqu'au dernier jour de ma vie.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Francis Bebey's song Lettre à ma bien-aimée, which translates to "Letter to my beloved," express the struggle of being in love with someone who you cannot be without. The singer reveals that they would have said goodbye to their beloved if they could have, just as they had done with other people in the past. However, they now find themselves unable to say goodbye to this particular person, as they are a prisoner of their own love. Despite their annoyance at not being able to leave, they are content with this new understanding of love, as it means they can love their beloved through any situation and will remain by their side until the very end.

The lyrics showcase the complexities of love and how it can change an individual's perspective on life. The singer's previous assertion of being a free man highlights the stark contrast between his past and present, where he is now unable to leave due to his feelings of love for his beloved. This portrays love as a form of captivity, where one is unable to break free from the emotional ties that bind them to their beloved.

The song reflects the message that love is powerful and compelling. It has brought the singer to a point where they feel like a prisoner in their own skin, but rather than feeling trapped, they are incredibly happy to love their beloved forever. This highlights love's ability to bring growth, change in priorities, and the capacity to transform one's life.

Line by Line Meaning

L'ennui avec toi
The problem with you

C'est que moi aussi je t'aime
Is that I also love you

si j'avais pu faire autrement
If I could have done otherwise

je t'aurais dit "Adieu"
I would have said goodbye to you

comme je faisais autrefois, avec d'autres gens
As I used to do with other people

Mais cette fois-ci, tout est différent
But this time, everything is different

Je suis prisonnier de mon amour
I am a prisoner of my love

car
because

Maintenant je veux t'aimer, quoi qu'il m'arrive dans la vie
Now I want to love you, no matter what happens in life

Avec toi je veux rester jusqu'au dernier jour de ma vie.
With you, I want to stay until the last day of my life.

Autrefois je m'en allais, là où je voulais
In the past, I used to go wherever I wanted

quand je voulais, sans rendre de compte à personne.
Whenever I wanted, without giving an account to anyone.

je disais à tout le monde et je criait à tue-tête: "Je suis un homme libre"
I used to tell everyone and shout at the top of my lungs: "I am a free man"

Maos aujourd'hui, je ne peux plus m'en aller comme je veux, ni quand je veux
But today, I can't leave whenever or however I want

je suis prisonnier de mon amour.
I am a prisoner of my love.

Cela m'ennuie beaucoup
It bothers me a lot

Mais je suis content, oui je suis content
But I am happy, yes I am happy

car vois-tu
because you see

Maintenant je peux t'aimer, quoi qu'il m'arrive dans la vie
Now I can love you, no matter what happens in life

Avec toi je veux rester jusqu'au dernier jour de ma vie.
With you, I want to stay until the last day of my life.

Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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