Moustaki was born Yussef Mustacchi on the 3rd May 1934 in Alexandria, Egypt, of Sephardic Jewish parents who had moved there from Corfu, and who ran a bookshop in the city. The family spoke Italian at home, but Georges (then Yussef) spoke Arabic with his friends and attended a French school to which his Francophile parents sent him and his sisters. In 1951 he moved to Paris, where he was inspired by the young Georges Brassens, in honour of whom he changed his name to Georges Moustaki.
Moustaki wrote and sang in French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, English, Yiddish, and Arabic. Early influences included Edith Piaf, with whom Moustaki carried on a year-long romance. His pan-national approach to music made him a star in Europe in the late sixties and early seventies.
He died on the 23rd May 2013 in Nice, France.
Chaque instant est toute une vie
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Prendre tout simplement ta main
Et t'emmener au bout du monde
A pied à cheval en bateau
Comme dans les romans photos
Où l'amour naît à la seconde
Il n'y a pas il n'y aura jamais
Chaque instant est toute une vie
Demain est un autre aujourd'hui
Je ne connais pas ton prénom
Je ne sais pas si oui ou non
Tu attendais cette rencontre
Que le hasard a décidée
D'un coup de tête un coup de dé
Sans peser le pour et le contre
Il n'y a pas il n'y aura jamais
De temps futur au verbe aimer
Chaque instant est toute une vie
Demain est un autre aujourd'hui
Il n'y aura ni nuit ni jour
Ni de jamais ni de toujours
Ce sera l'aube en permanence
D'une nuit qui tarde à finir
D'un jour qui ne veut pas venir
Et qui prolonge ta présence
Il n'y a pas il n'y aura jamais
De temps futur au verbe aimer
Chaque instant est toute une vie
Demain est un autre aujourd'hui
Il n'y a pas il n'y aura jamais
De temps futur au verbe aimer
Chaque instant est toute une vie
Demain est un autre aujourd'hui
The lyrics of Georges Moustaki's song "Chaque instant est toute une vie" convey a yearning for a chance encounter with someone. The singer expresses a desire to cross paths with this person, simply take their hand, and embark on an adventure together. The singer references various modes of transportation like walking, riding a horse, and sailing in a boat, evoking the sense of a romantic journey captured in old photo novels. In these tales, love often blossoms in an instant, emphasizing the idea that every moment is a lifetime in itself.
The song suggests that there is no future tense in the verb "to love" (aimer). The concept of time is challenged, highlighting the importance of living in the present. The lyrics assert that each moment holds the potential for a full and vibrant life, and tomorrow will bring a new version of today. This notion is reinforced throughout the song's repetition of the phrase "Demain est un autre aujourd'hui" (Tomorrow is another today).
The song also touches on the uncertainty of the encounter. The singer admits to not knowing the person's name and whether or not they were anticipating this meeting. The meeting seems to have been determined solely by chance, with the singer suggesting a spontaneous decision without weighing the pros and cons. This adds an element of unpredictability and excitement to the narrative.
In summary, "Chaque instant est toute une vie" embodies a desire for an unexpected encounter with someone, embracing the idea that every moment holds the potential for a lifetime of experiences. The song celebrates living in the present and acknowledges the uncertainty and thrill that come with chance encounters.
Line by Line Meaning
J'aimerais croiser ton chemin
I would like to cross your path
Prendre tout simplement ta main
Simply take your hand
Et t'emmener au bout du monde
And take you to the ends of the earth
A pied à cheval en bateau
On foot, on horseback, by boat
Comme dans les romans photos
Like in the photo novels
Où l'amour naît à la seconde
Where love is born in a second
Je ne connais pas ton prénom
I don't know your name
Je ne sais pas si oui ou non
I don't know if yes or no
Tu attendais cette rencontre
You were waiting for this encounter
Que le hasard a décidée
That chance decided
D'un coup de tête un coup de dé
In a moment of impulse, a roll of the dice
Sans peser le pour et le contre
Without weighing the pros and cons
Il n'y aura ni nuit ni jour
There will be neither night nor day
Ni de jamais ni de toujours
Neither never nor forever
Ce sera l'aube en permanence
It will be dawn permanently
D'une nuit qui tarde à finir
Of a night that takes a long time to end
D'un jour qui ne veut pas venir
Of a day that doesn't want to come
Et qui prolonge ta présence
And prolongs your presence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DEBRAY ALAIN
Merci a toi , Georges , en ce 10 Aout 2019
Maïté Hardy
Merci pour ce souvenir !
Ines Duran
Gracias por esta canción me enamoro cuando la escuché ls primera vez
Marie RAOULT
Gracias por querer a los cantantes franceses.. creo que moustaki era famoso en España?
Jack Jackson
Fabuleuse chanson de Georges, une fois de plus !