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.
Venez danser
Georges Moustaki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Venez danser les jeunes filles
Venez les belles que voilà
Mettez des ail's à vos chevilles
Et laissez-moi guider vos pas
Que la musique vous entraîne
Comme un manège d'autrefois
Venez danser les souveraines
Laissez-moi vous prendre la taille
Vous murmurer des mots d'amour
Et livrer la tendre bataille
Ou les amants gagnent toujours
Tout n'est qu'un jeu et la vie passe
Prenez la quand elle est à vous
Sur les trois temps de cette valse
Valsez vos rêves les plus fous
Venez danser les jeunes filles
Venez danser entre mes bras
De l'une à l'autre je m'éparpille
Je perds la tète à chaque fois
Et si demain c'est la grisaille
Et si demain chacun pour soi
Si ce n'était qu'un feu de paille
Ça restera un feu de joie
Georges Moustaki's song "Venez danser" is a romantic invitation to dance. He calls out to young women to come and dance with him, encouraging them to put bells on their ankles and let him lead the way. The music transports them to another time, and Moustaki invites them to feel like royalty while he takes on the role of their king. He wants to hold them close, whisper sweet nothings in their ears, and engage in the tender battle of love where lovers always win. He acknowledges that life is fleeting, but encourages them to take hold of it and dance their wildest dreams into existence. Moustaki is so taken aback by each girl he dances with that he gets lost in them, losing his head each time. Even if their time together is brief and the future seems uncertain, the joy of their dance will linger on.
Line by Line Meaning
Venez danser les jeunes filles
Come dance, young girls
Venez les belles que voilà
Come, oh beautiful ones we see here
Mettez des ail's à vos chevilles
Put garlic on your ankles (as a traditional sign of beauty)
Et laissez-moi guider vos pas
And let me lead your steps
Que la musique vous entraîne
Let the music carry you away
Comme un manège d'autrefois
Like an old-time carousel
Venez danser les souveraines
Come dance, oh queens
Laissez-moi être votre roi
Let me be your king
Laissez-moi vous prendre la taille
Let me take you by the waist
Vous murmurer des mots d'amour
Whisper words of love to you
Et livrer la tendre bataille
And engage in the tender battle
Ou les amants gagnent toujours
Where lovers always win
Tout n'est qu'un jeu et la vie passe
Everything is just a game and life goes by
Prenez la quand elle est à vous
Take it when it's yours (referring to life)
Sur les trois temps de cette valse
On the three beats of this waltz
Valsez vos rêves les plus fous
Waltz your wildest dreams
Venez danser les jeunes filles
Come dance, young girls
Venez danser entre mes bras
Come dance in my arms
De l'une à l'autre je m'éparpille
From one to another, I scatter myself
Je perds la tète à chaque fois
I lose my head every time
Et si demain c'est la grisaille
And if tomorrow it's gray and gloomy
Et si demain chacun pour soi
And if tomorrow everyone is for themselves
Si ce n'était qu'un feu de paille
If it was only a flash in the pan
Ça restera un feu de joie
It will remain a fire of joy
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.