Born G… Read Full Bio ↴Guy Béart (born July 16, 1930) is a French singer and songwriter.
Born Guy Béhar in Cairo, Egypt, his father's work as an accountant and business consultant saw the family move frequently, leading to a childhood spent in France, Greece, and Mexico, in addition to Egypt. Between the ages of 10 and 17 his family settled in Lebanon where his interest in music developed to the point that he left for Paris to study at the "École nationale de musique". In addition to music, he also obtained a degree in engineering.
When his father died in 1952, the young Guy Béhar chose to pursue a career in engineering in order to help support his family, studying at the prestigious École nationale des ponts et chausées. Simultaneously, however, he enrolled in Paris's École nationale de musique, studying violin and mandolin, and in his spare time wrote songs and worked the Paris cabaret circuit, where he played guitar and sang under the stage name "Guy Béart". When a version of one of his songs by a popular performer of the day became a huge success, demand for his writing talents increased and he composed for Juliette Gréco and others. Taken under the wing of renowned music producer Jacques Canetti and fellow musician Boris Vian, he released an album of his own, which won the prestigious Grand Prix de l'Académie du Disque français in 1958.
Normally shy, Béart initially suffered from stage fright and had a very difficult time during his concert debut at the Paris Olympia. His biggest hit came when he wrote the soundtrack of the 1960 motion picture, L'Eau vive. The title song of the film is considered a classic of what is known as French chanson. Despite his leap to fame, Béart's singing career was soon swamped by the rising tide of American rock and roll. However, reinventing himself as a host of a television show featuring musical stars from a variety of genres, he remained in the public eye and eventually made a recording comeback.
In 1965 he and his wife, Geneviève Galea, had a daughter, Emmanuelle, who would grow up to be an actress.
After Béart's television show ended in 1970, his popularity waned but he continued to record new music that was readily purchased by a loyal following. By the early 1980s he was almost completely out of the spotlight and, although only in his early fifties, he suffered from a number of serious health problems. In 1987, he published a book about his illness entitled L'Espérance folle (Crazy Hope) that, combined with his daughter’s success in the blockbuster film Manon des Sources, brought a resurgence of popularity. More than 25 years after his first appearance at the Paris Olympia, he returned for a series of highly successful performances.
In 1994 Béart was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Académie française in recognition of his achievements over his long career. He continued to perform at a variety of venues around the country and in 1999 did a five-week run at Bobino in Montparnasse that was so popular it allowed for a successful re-release of his double live album recorded at the Olympia.
Now, well into his seventies, he only makes a rare appearance on stage but many of his songs, of which Béart wrote more than 300 himself, are still being purchased by his fans.
Il N'Y a Plus d'Apres
Guy Béart Lyrics
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Quand tu veux changer d'âge, tu t'offres un long voyage
Tu viens me dire bonjour au coin d'la rue Dufour
Tu viens me visiter à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Il n'y a plus d'après à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Plus d'après-demain, plus d'après-midi
Il n'y a qu'aujourd'hui quand je te reverrai
Ce n'sera plus toi, ce n'sera plus moi
Il n'y a plus d'autrefois
Tu me dis "comme tout change", les rues te semblent étranges
Même les cafés-crème n'ont plus le goût qu'tu aimes
C'est que tu es une autre, c'est que je suis un autre
Nous sommes étrangers à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Il n'y a plus d'après à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Plus d'après-demain, plus d'après-midi
Il n'y a qu'aujourd'hui quand je te reverrai
À Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ce n'sera plus toi, ce n'sera plus moi
Il n'y a plus d'autrefois
À vivre au jour le jour, le moindre des amours
Prenait dans ces ruelles des allures éternelles
Mais à la nuit, la nuit, c'était bientôt fini
Voici l'éternité de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Il n'y a plus d'après à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Plus d'après-demain, plus d'après-midi
Il n'y a qu'aujourd'hui quand je te reverrai
À Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ce n'sera plus toi, ce n'sera plus moi
Il n'y a plus d'autrefois
The song "Il n'y a plus d'après" by Guy Béart narrates the story of two people who used to be in love and have now grown apart. The singer’s lover now lives in another part of Paris and only visits Saint-Germain-des-Prés occasionally. The once close relationship has fizzled out and both parties feel like strangers in a place that once held so many special memories for them.
The song beautifully captures the bittersweet emotions of nostalgia and the realization that time and distance have taken a toll on a once-powerful relationship. The lyrics speak to the idea that when love fades, even our familiar haunts and places take on new meanings, and what used to be special no longer holds the charm it once did.
There is a sense of sadness that permeates the song, highlighted by the repetition of the line “Il n'y a plus” (there is no more). The pains of looking back on a relationship that has faded away are clear in the singer’s voice.
Overall, "Il n'y a plus d'après" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the sad reality that sometimes, things just don't work out, and even the most special places can become associated with painful memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Maintenant que tu vis à l'autre bout d'Paris
Now that you live on the other side of Paris
Quand tu veux changer d'âge, tu t'offres un long voyage
When you want to change your age, you go on a long journey
Tu viens me dire bonjour au coin d'la rue Dufour
You come to say hello to me at the corner of Dufour street
Tu viens me visiter à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
You come to visit me in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Il n'y a plus d'après à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
There is no more future in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Plus d'après-demain, plus d'après-midi
No more day-after-tomorrow, no more afternoon
Il n'y a qu'aujourd'hui quand je te reverrai
There is only today when I will see you again
À Saint-Germain-des-Prés
In Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Ce n'sera plus toi, ce n'sera plus moi
It won't be you anymore, it won't be me anymore
Il n'y a plus d'autrefois
There is no more past
Tu me dis "comme tout change", les rues te semblent étranges
You tell me "how everything changes", the streets seem strange to you
Même les cafés-crème n'ont plus le goût qu'tu aimes
Even the café-au-lait doesn't taste the way you like it anymore
C'est que tu es une autre, c'est que je suis un autre
It's because you are someone else, it's because I am someone else
Nous sommes étrangers à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
We are strangers in Saint-Germain-des-Prés
À vivre au jour le jour, le moindre des amours
Living day by day, the smallest of loves
Prenait dans ces ruelles des allures éternelles
Took on eternal appearances in these alleys
Mais à la nuit, la nuit, c'était bientôt fini
But at night, night, it was soon over
Voici l'éternité de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Here is the eternity of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Writer(s): Guy Beart
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.