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.
Les musiciens
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un jour on rit, un jour on meurt.
REFRAIN:
On est les musiciens,
On est les baladins.
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur.
Oiseau de nuit un peu moqueur,
Faiseur de pluie, parfois menteur.
REFRAIN
Amour, ami, amant de coeur,
Bonsoir, merci, et sans rancoeur.
REFRAIN
Un jour ici, un jour ailleurs,
Un jour on rit, on jour on meurt.
REFRAIN
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
On est les baladins
On se balade en ce jardin
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
Georges Moustaki's song "Les musiciens" is a poetic reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the role of musicians as travelers through this ephemeral journey. The first verse sets the tone, with the line "Un jour ici, un jour ailleurs" meaning "One day here, one day there" indicating the transient nature of existence. This is followed by "Un jour on rit, un jour on meurt" - "One day we laugh, one day we die" - a reminder of the ultimate end awaiting us all.
The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, celebrates the musicians as "baladins" or wandering performers, who navigate the joys and sorrows of life. They are portrayed as strolling through a garden that is "fleuri de joie et de douleur" - "blooming with both joy and pain", which again emphasizes the dichotomy of existence. The verses that follow further develop this theme, presenting the musicians as complex and contradictory figures. They are "oiseaux de nuit" or night birds, who can be playful ("un peu moqueur") or deceptive ("parfois menteur").
The final verse repeats the opening lines, bringing the song full circle and underscoring the cyclical nature of life. Throughout the song, Moustaki's lyrics are supported by a gentle and soothing melody, with an acoustic guitar providing the main accompaniment. The overall effect is a poignant and nostalgic reflection on the transience of life, and the role of musicians in navigating its ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Un jour ici, un jour ailleurs,
Our lives are full of unpredictability, where one day we may be here, and another day, we may be elsewhere.
Un jour on rit, un jour on meurt.
We experience a range of emotions throughout life, where we can go from joy to sadness in an instant.
REFRAIN: On est les musiciens,
We are musicians, who play the strings of life and make melodies out of the experiences we have.
On est les baladins.
We are wanderers, traveling through the garden of life and experiencing all of its joys and pains.
On se balade en ce jardin
We take a stroll through this garden of life, not always knowing what we will find or where we will go.
Fleuri de joie et de douleur.
This garden of life is full of both happiness and pain, and we must be willing to experience both to truly live.
Oiseau de nuit un peu moqueur,
We can be like the night owl, sometimes laughing at life and not taking it too seriously.
Faiseur de pluie, parfois menteur.
We may have the power to make a difference in this world, and sometimes we must use our imagination and bend the truth to get there.
Amour, ami, amant de coeur,
We all need love in our lives, whether it is in the form of friendship, romance or passion.
Bonsoir, merci, et sans rancoeur.
We should always be courteous and grateful, even when life has not been kind to us.
Un jour ici, un jour ailleurs,
Life is fleeting, and we must make the most of what little time we have.
Un jour on rit, on jour on meurt.
We all have a limited time on this Earth, and we must live each day to the fullest, embracing all of its ups and downs.
REFRAIN: On est les baladins
We are the wanderers, who will continue on this journey through life, experiencing all of its joys and sorrows.
On se balade en ce jardin
As we journey through this garden of life, we must take the time to stop and appreciate its beauty.
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
This garden of life is a kaleidoscope of colors, where we must experience both the bright and dark moments to truly appreciate it.
On est les baladins
We are the wanderers, free to roam through this garden of life, experiencing all of its infinite possibilities.
On se balade en ce jardin
We must take a leisurely stroll through life, stopping to smell the roses and appreciate each moment.
Fleuri de joie et de douleur
This garden of life is a mosaic of happiness and pain, where we must learn to appreciate both to truly treasure life.
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.