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.
L'espagne au cœur
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
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Tous mes ancêtres séfarades
Ont pris la route des nomades
Ont pris la route des nomades
L’Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
L’Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
Ma sœur latine et africaine
Ma sœur méditerranéenne
Le même sang coule en nos veines
Le même sang coule en nos veines
L’Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
L’Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
De la Galice aux Baléares
Terre inconnue et familière
Où surgissent dans la poussière
Mes souvenirs bimillénaires
Mes souvenirs bimillénaires
L’Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
L’Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
De la Galice aux Baléares
Impératrice sans empire
Pasionaria, sainte et martyre
Ivre de vivre et d'en mourir
Ivre de vivre et d'en mourir
L’Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
L’Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
De la Galice aux Baléares
L’Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
L’Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
De la Galice aux Baléares
L'Espagne au cœur
"L'espagne au cœur" is a tribute to the rich cultural heritage and history of Spain. The lyrics express a deep connection and love for the country, as well as an acknowledgment of the diverse influences that make up its identity.
The singer refers to his ancestors, who hail from cities like Toledo and Granada, suggesting a Sephardic (Jewish) background. He describes them as nomads, hinting at the various migrations and displacements that have shaped Spanish history. This sense of mobility and exploration is further emphasized by the repeated line "ont pris la route des nomades" (took the path of the nomads).
The chorus highlights the strong presence of Spain in the singer's life and memory. Spain is metaphorically represented as the heart of his guitar, symbolizing its importance and influence on his artistry. Mentioning places like Asturias, Gibraltar, Galicia, and the Balearic Islands emphasizes the country's geographical and cultural diversity.
The song also touches on the singer's connection to his "sister" nations of Latin America and Africa, emphasizing the shared heritage and bloodline. The lyrics express a sense of unity and kinship, as they recognize the common thread that runs through all these cultures.
Overall, "L'espagne au cœur" celebrates Spain's rich history and cultural tapestry, showcasing the singer's personal connection and deep emotional attachment to the country.
Line by Line Meaning
Fils de Tolède ou de Grenade
Descendants of Toledo or Grenada
Tous mes ancêtres séfarades
All my ancestors who were Sephardic Jews
Ont pris la route des nomades
Took the path of the nomads
L'Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Spain in the heart of my guitar
Des Asturies à Gibraltar
From Asturias to Gibraltar
L'Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
Spain deep in my memory
De la Galice aux Baléares
From Galicia to the Balearic Islands
Ma sœur latine et africaine
My Latin and African sister
Ma sœur méditerranéenne
My Mediterranean sister
Le même sang coule en nos veines
The same blood flows in our veins
Terre inconnue et familière
Unknown and familiar land
Où surgissent dans la poussière
Where memories arise in the dust
Mes souvenirs bimillénaires
My two-thousand-year-old memories
Impératrice sans empire
Empress without an empire
Pasionaria, sainte et martyre
Pasionaria, saint and martyr
Ivre de vivre et d'en mourir
Drunk with life and ready to die
L'Espagne au cœur de ma guitare
Spain in the heart of my guitar
L'Espagne au fond de ma mémoire
Spain deep in my memory
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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