Georges Moustaki (1934-2013) was a singer-songwriter of Greek Jewish origin… Read Full Bio ↴Georges Moustaki (1934-2013) was a singer-songwriter of Greek Jewish origin.

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.

Des mots démodés
Georges Moustaki Lyrics

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T'écrivais des mots doux
Tu disais des mots tendres
Au premier rendez-vous
Je me suis laissé prendre
Tu me donnais du houx
Des mots de notre langue
Ils enlaçaient mon cou
Et j'adorais m'y pendre!

Tu me disais des mots
Des mots démodés des mots de rien du tout
Des mots démodés qui me parlait de nous
Des mots démodés qui me parlait de vous
Des mots démodés, des mots démodés, des mots
Qui me faisait un effet fou

Peu à peu les mots tendres
Ont déserté ta bouche t'as préféré me vendre
À des mots bien plus louches
Et soudain le mot "rendre?"
Le désirs s'est enfui
J'ai cessé de me pendre a tes mots évanouie

Je les ai oublié tes mots démodés
Les mots de rien du tout
Des mots démodés qui me parlait de nous
Des mots démodés qui me parlait de vous
Des mots démodés, des mots démodés, des mots
Qui me faisait un effet fou

Aujourd'hui tu voudrais
Serrer à pierre "fendre?" les mots du passé
Pour pouvoir me reprendre
Mais ils n'ont plus le goût
Le goût de l'âge tendre ils se sont fanés
Ils sont devenu cendre!

Ils glissent sur mon coup tes mots démodés
Ils ne parlent plus de nous tes mots démodés
Ils ont le regard flou tes mots démodés
Ils n'enlacent plus mon cou

Des mots démodés, des mots démodés, des mots
Qui ne me disent plus rien du tout

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Georges Moustaki's song "Des mots démodés" tell a story of a love affair that begins with sweet and tender words, but eventually loses its sincerity and passion.

In the first paragraph, the singer describes how his lover used to write and speak sweet words to him, enchanting him from the very beginning. These words, like holly, embrace his neck, and he adores the feeling of being captured in their charm.

However, in the second paragraph, the tone shifts, indicating that over time, the tender words have disappeared from his lover's mouth. Instead, they have been replaced by meaningless and questionable words that no longer speak to their love. Despite this change, these outdated words still have a strong effect on the singer, driving him crazy.

As the romance continues to deteriorate, the third paragraph reveals that the desire has vanished, and he stops clinging onto his lover's words. In disappointment, he forgets those outdated words that meant nothing and spoke only of the past. The magic they once held has faded away, leaving him disillusioned.

In the final paragraph, the singer speaks directly to his lover, conveying that they now want to reclaim the power of their past words and rekindle their love. However, these words no longer have the same meaning or impact. They have lost their flavor and have turned into ashes. They no longer have the ability to convey intimate emotions and no longer speak to the singer in the same way.

Overall, "Des mots démodés" explores the decline of a relationship through the fading power of once meaningful words. It illustrates how the loss of sincere language can lead to emotional detachment and ultimately result in the demise of love.

Des mots démodésGeorges Moustaki Lyrics

Des mots démodés
Georges Moustaki Lyrics