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.
Guitare
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tu glisses sous mes doigts
Comme un bateau de bois
Venu du fond des âges, sans mât sans équipage
Mais chargé de refrains
De joies et de chagrins
Guitare, ô ma fidèle, ma jolie demoiselle
Quand la Marie volage me fait perdre courage
Tu m'offres le secours d'une chanson d'amour
Guitare, ô ma fragile
Plus tendre que l'argile
Tu es de la tribu des musiciens des rues
Qui font chanter tes cordes
Comme de grandes orgues
De quoi faire rêver les amants du pavé
Guitare, ô ma guitare
Quand il sera trop tard
Pour courir les chemins comme des bohémiens
Ta dernière musique sera comme un cantique
Quand nous irons tous deux
Reposer dans les cieux
These lyrics from Georges Moustaki's song "Guitare" depict a deep emotional connection and admiration for the guitar as a companion and source of solace. In the first stanza, the guitar is described as a beautiful and enchanting Spanish girl, sliding effortlessly under the artist's fingers like a wooden boat sailed from ancient times. It is portrayed as a vessel carrying a mix of joyful melodies and sorrowful tunes, representing the range of emotions and experiences that music can convey.
The second stanza continues to emphasize the guitar's importance to the artist's emotional well-being. It is referred to as a faithful and lovely companion, able to console the heart with its gentle touch. In moments when the artist's courage wavers due to the unfaithfulness of a woman named Marie, the guitar offers solace through a love song. This highlights the guitar's ability not only to provide comfort but also to express emotions that cannot be easily put into words.
Moving on to the third stanza, the guitar is described as fragile, yet more delicate and tender than clay. It is seen as part of a tribe of street musicians who make its strings sing like grand organs, enchanting lovers on the streets. Here, the guitar is portrayed as an instrument of dreams, captivating listeners and creating a sense of beauty and romance in an urban setting.
Lastly, in the fourth stanza, the artist envisions a future where it will no longer be possible to wander the roads like a Bohemian. In this imagined scenario, the guitar's final music will serve as a hymn or canticle when both the artist and the guitar are laid to rest in the heavens. This implies that even beyond their time on earth, the guitar's music will continue to resonate and carry a spiritual significance, providing solace and symbolizing a cherished connection between the artist and their instrument.
Line by Line Meaning
Guitare, ô ma compagne, jolie fille d'Espagne
Guitar, oh my companion, beautiful girl from Spain
Tu glisses sous mes doigts
You glide under my fingers
Comme un bateau de bois
Like a wooden boat
Venu du fond des âges, sans mât sans équipage
Coming from the depths of ages, without mast or crew
Mais chargé de refrains
But loaded with refrains
De joies et de chagrins
Of joys and sorrows
Guitare, ô ma fidèle, ma jolie demoiselle
Guitar, oh my faithful, my pretty lady
Tu consoles mon cœur avec tant de douceur
You console my heart with such sweetness
Quand la Marie volage me fait perdre courage
When fickle Marie makes me lose courage
Tu m'offres le secours d'une chanson d'amour
You offer me the help of a love song
Guitare, ô ma fragile
Guitar, oh my fragile
Plus tendre que l'argile
More tender than clay
Tu es de la tribu des musiciens des rues
You belong to the tribe of street musicians
Qui font chanter tes cordes
Who make your strings sing
Comme de grandes orgues
Like grand organs
De quoi faire rêver les amants du pavé
Enough to make the lovers of the pavement dream
Guitare, ô ma guitare
Guitar, oh my guitar
Quand il sera trop tard
When it will be too late
Pour courir les chemins comme des bohémiens
To run the roads like bohemians
Ta dernière musique sera comme un cantique
Your last music will be like a hymn
Quand nous irons tous deux
When we both go
Reposer dans les cieux
Rest in the heavens
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EVREN evo
Gerçekten muhteşem bir parça. Cok güzel icra etmissiniz.A truly magnificent piece. You have a very nice execution.
Sonia Vaughan
My husband is learning to play it right now, loved it since I gat the album from George Moustaki years ago.
germangoz
Símplemente un tema hermosísimo, interpretado magistralmente.
Evi M.
One of my favourite instrumentals! Beautiful! Thanks!
Nath lang
it's very beautiful play, congratulations Arno! I'll subscribe and also convince significant others !
Nadja Fungu
I`am a bit late, but it`s so amazing - I learn this song at the moment and if you play this it looks so easy... it isn`t xD... well done, I can`t stop listening that :))
The Black Smoker Arts & Crafts
Nice name for a classical guitar piece. Very original.
Tuan Nguyen
I am really appreciate your sharing, free tab this song and different songs. Thank you so much, Arno Mermet. May you have many good things in your life!
Josh Claydermann
Tuan Nguyen mình hay đánh bài này sau romance nè.its sound pretty nice
joguitac
c'est très beau, bravo Arno !Jo