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.
Le Temps De Nos Guitares
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sacha parlait de sa famille, Maxime était né quelque part
Dylan était comme pierre qui roule et Brel faisait valser Vesoul
Paco rythmait "A galopar" au temps joli de nos guitares
Au joli temps de nos guitares, Leclerc chantait "Moi, mes souliers"
Lemarque "Un petit cordonnier", Danal fredonnait "Le soudard"
Coluche ressuscitait Bruant, Joël était adolescent
Au temps joli de nos guitares, Aufray chantait "Santiano"
Ricet la servante du chatiau (dans ses gros sabiaux)
C'était Perret, Sylvestre et Var
Robert venait de Montréal et Jacques de son Douai natal
C'était Gainsbourg avant Gainsbarre, le temps joli de nos guitares
Au joli temps de nos guitares, Brassens criait "Gare au gorille!"
Sacha parlait de sa famille, Maxime était né quelque part
Henri chantait sa chanson douce, c'était lui notre maître à tous
Moi, je vivais comme un lézard, au temps joli de nos guitares
Il y en avait tant et tant que j'en oublie, c'est évident
Que l'on pardonne à ma mémoire du temps joli de nos guitares
Du temps joli de nos guitares, du temps joli de nos guitares.
The lyrics to the song Le Temps De Nos Guitares by Georges Moustaki reminisce about the music scene during a more innocent time when a group of iconic musicians sang their hearts out to the tunes of their guitars. The first verse references a few famous French singers and poets, including Georges Brassens, Sacha Distel, and Maxime Le Forestier. Brassens, in particular, warned his listeners of the dangers of the world, with his song "Gare au Gorille" ("Watch out for the Gorilla"). Distel sang about his family, and Le Forestier was still finding his place in the world, with the lyrics "né quelque part" ("born somewhere"). The verse also mentions Bob Dylan, who was like a rolling stone and Jacques Brel who made the residents of Vesoul dance.
The second verse mentions more French singers, including Félix Leclerc, who sang about his shoes, Francis Lemarque, who sang about a little shoemaker, and Dick Annegarn, who sang about the life of a soldier. Coluche brought Aristide Bruant's old music back to life, and Joel Daydé was just starting his career. Finally, there was Jean Ferrat and Guy Béart, both of whom made an impact on the French music scene at that time.
In the final verse, Moustaki himself is included as an unassuming lizard living in that wonderful time of guitars. In the end, the song serves as a tribute to the many artists who sang during that unforgettable era, and the power of music to unite people.
Line by Line Meaning
Au joli temps de nos guitares, Brassens criait "Gare au gorille!"
In the beautiful era of our guitars, Brassens warned us to beware of the gorilla!
Sacha parlait de sa famille, Maxime était né quelque part
Sacha spoke of his family and Maxime was born somewhere
Dylan était comme pierre qui roule et Brel faisait valser Vesoul
Dylan was like a rolling stone and Brel made Vesoul dance
Paco rythmait "A galopar" au temps joli de nos guitares
Paco played "A galopar" in the beautiful era of our guitars
Au joli temps de nos guitares, Leclerc chantait "Moi, mes souliers"
In the beautiful era of our guitars, Leclerc sang "Moi, mes souliers"
Lemarque "Un petit cordonnier", Danal fredonnait "Le soudard"
Lemarque sang "Un petit cordonnier" and Danal hummed "Le soudard"
Coluche ressuscitait Bruant, Joël était adolescent
Coluche resurrected Bruant and Joël was an adolescent
C'était Ferrat, c'était Béart, le temps joli de nos guitares
It was Ferrat, it was Béart, in the beautiful era of our guitars
Au temps joli de nos guitares, Aufray chantait "Santiano"
In the beautiful era of our guitars, Aufray sang "Santiano"
Ricet la servante du chatiau (dans ses gros sabiaux)
Ricet, the servant of the castle (in her big shoes)
C'était Perret, Sylvestre et Var, Robert venait de Montréal et Jacques de son Douai natal
It was Perret, Sylvestre and Var, Robert came from Montreal and Jacques from his hometown of Douai
C'était Gainsbourg avant Gainsbarre, le temps joli de nos guitares
It was Gainsbourg before Gainsbarre in the beautiful era of our guitars
Henri chantait sa chanson douce, c'était lui notre maître à tous
Henri sang his sweet song, he was our master
Moi, je vivais comme un lézard, au temps joli de nos guitares
I lived like a lizard, in the beautiful era of our guitars
Il y en avait tant et tant que j'en oublie, c'est évident
There were so many that I forget, obviously
Que l'on pardonne à ma mémoire du temps joli de nos guitares
Please forgive my memory of the beautiful era of our guitars
Du temps joli de nos guitares, du temps joli de nos guitares.
In the beautiful era of our guitars, in the beautiful era of our guitars.
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Amadeus
Trouver les mots pour faire une chanson pareille, c'est vraiment génial. Repose en paix Joe.
Pierre Carrus
Adieu Georges. Tu viens de nous quitter, mais on ne pourra jamais t'oublier. Tes chansons sont immortelles.......elles sont si belles, et si bien interprétées. Repose en paix, cher Ami Georges. Pierre.
Renny Carré
Vive la guitare et vive Georges Moustaki !
Catherine Andréani
Oh que j'aime cette chanson, sur laquelle je tombe par hasard . Merci.
Daria
Emouvant!
Claude Bardin
Beaucoup de nostalgie dans cette jolie chanson.
Stark Joy
J'aurais bien aimé être jeune à cette époque...
Thomas Simone
une jolie petite chanson qui nous retrace tous les artistes français de toute époque ! merci ! amitiés : Monica40
didier bertrand
merci george pour tous ps pour Brendan kernaleguen si tu ecoute bien il cite toute les chanteurs du montage photo
Sedef Kandemir
adieu georges