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.
Mourir
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
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Quitter sa vie et ses amours
Dire qu'il faudra laisser tout ça
Pour Dieu sait quel au-delà
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
C'est dur à penser, il faut bien le dire
Dire qu'il faudra rester tout seul
Dans la tristesse d'un linceul
Sans une fille pour la nuit
Sans une goutte de whisky
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
C'est dur à penser, il faut bien le dire
Dire qu'il faudra, bon gré mal gré
N'avoir que d'éternels regrets
Moi qui voudrais plus d'une vie
Pour passer toutes mes envies
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
C'est dur à penser, il faut bien le dire
Dire qu'il faudra mourir d'ennui
En enfer ou en paradis
Rester toute une éternité
Sans jamais pouvoir s'évader
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
C'est dur à penser, il faut bien le dire
Dire qu'il faudra mourir encore
Moi qui suis souvent déjà mort
Oui mort d'amour et de plaisir
De quoi pourrais-je mieux mourir ?
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
C'est dur à penser, mon amour
The lyrical content of "Mourir" by Georges Moustaki is a reflection on the inevitability of death. The song explores the thought of leaving everything behind for an unknown afterlife. Moustaki addresses the audience with deep emotions, acknowledging that it is hard to think about facing such a reality, and makes a list of the things that he would miss when he dies. He talks about leaving loved ones behind, the loneliness and darkness that will surround him, the sense of loss and regret, having lived only one life when he desires much more, and the possibility of experiencing hell or paradise. In the end, Moustaki concludes that he has already tasted death many times through the experiences that brought him joy and love, and he recognizes that it is better to die from those than anything else.
The melancholic melody, combined with the emotional lyrics, creates a sense of deep introspection and contemplation. The repetition of the phrase "Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour" (To think we'll have to die someday) throughout the song highlights the song's central theme, the inevitability of death. This song allows one to reflect on their own mortality and what they want to leave behind when they die.
Line by Line Meaning
Dire qu'il faudra mourir un jour
It is hard to accept that one day we will have to die.
Quitter sa vie et ses amours
Leaving behind our life and loved ones.
Dire qu'il faudra laisser tout ça
It is difficult to accept that we must leave behind everything we know and cherish.
Pour Dieu sait quel au-delà
For an unknown afterlife, only known to God.
Dire qu'il faudra rester tout seul
It is sad to think that we will be alone in our final resting place.
Dans la tristesse d'un linceul
In the sadness of a shroud.
Sans une fille pour la nuit
Without a girl beside us for the night.
Sans une goutte de whisky
Without a drop of whiskey to soothe our thoughts.
Dire qu'il faudra, bon gré mal gré
We must reluctantly accept that we will have only eternal regrets.
N'avoir que d'éternels regrets
We will only have regrets that will last for eternity.
Moi qui voudrais plus d'une vie
Personally, I wish I could have more than one life to live out my desires.
Pour passer toutes mes envies
To fulfill all of my desires.
Dire qu'il faudra mourir d'ennui
Thinking that we will die of boredom, whether in heaven or hell.
En enfer ou en paradis
Whether in hell or paradise.
Rester toute une éternité
To remain for all of eternity.
Sans jamais pouvoir s'évader
Without ever being able to escape.
Dire qu'il faudra mourir encore
To accept that we will die multiple times in our lifetime.
Moi qui suis souvent déjà mort
For those who have already experienced the metaphorical deaths of love and pleasure.
Oui mort d'amour et de plaisir
To die from love and pleasure.
De quoi pourrais-je mieux mourir ?
What else could I ask for when dying?
C'est dur à penser, mon amour
It is hard to think about, my love.
Lyrics © EDITIONS METROPOLITAINES
Written by: Georges MOUSTAKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind