In 1970, he released his first album, Retour. Dès also founded his own record label, Disques Mary-Josée, which he named after his wife.
In 1969 he won the Sopot International Song Festival.
He represented Switzerland in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest with the song 'Retour'. It was placed fourth. Henri achieved another fourth place, this time in the Swiss national final for Eurovision 1976, with the song 'C'est pour la vie'.
Les Bêtises À L'école
Henri Dès Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Le grand Dédé, poil poil au nez
Devant toute la classe
Monte au tableau, poil poil au dos
Pour faire des grimaces
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Quand le Julien, poil poil aux mains
Raconte ses histoires
Elles sont si bêtes, poil aux chaussettes
Qu'on pleure dans nos mouchoirs
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Et la maîtresse, poil poil aux tresses
Qui pousse des soupirs
Quand Marion, poil au menton
Attrape le fou rire
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Et puis y a moi, poil poil au doigt
Qui marche à quatre pattes
Pour chatouiller, poil au mollet
Ma voisine de droite
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Y a la Thérèse, poil à la chaise
C'est la plus rigolote
Quand elle s'asseye, poil aux orteils
On lui voit sa culotte
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Heureusement, poil poil aux dents
Quand vient la sonnerie
Tout le monde s'arrête, poil aux baskets
Par ici la sortie
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum, ouais!
The song "Les Bêtises À L'école" by Henri Dès is a playful and lighthearted take on the idea that school is not just about academic learning, but also about learning how to have fun and be silly. The lyrics describe various situations in school where students engage in mischievous behavior and play practical jokes on each other. The song highlights the idea that school is not just about following rules and being serious, but also about fostering a sense of creativity and playfulness.
The first verse introduces an imaginary person named Grand Dédé who makes funny faces while standing at the board. The second verse features a boy called Julien who tells silly stories that make everyone laugh uncontrollably. In the third verse, the teacher observes Marion giggling, causing everyone else to start laughing too. The final verse describes the singer crawling on all fours to tickle his neighbor and Thérèse, who is the funniest because of her underwear.
Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a lighthearted and nostalgic tone, reminiscent of childhood memories where school was more about fun and less about the academic pressure. The song encourages listeners to embrace a more playful attitude towards education and enjoy the simple joys of school life, such as playing pranks and laughing with friends.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est à l'école, tagadagada
The place where we learn silly things and have fun is school, tagadagada.
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
We learn silly things, things that make us laugh and have fun.
Qu'on apprend les bêtises
We learn silly things, things that make us laugh and have fun.
Le grand Dédé, poil poil au nez
Big Dede, with hair on his nose,
Devant toute la classe
In front of the whole class
Monte au tableau, poil poil au dos
Steps up to the blackboard, hair on his back
Pour faire des grimaces
To make funny faces
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Sound effects representing the fun and laughter
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum
More sound effects representing the fun and laughter
Quand le Julien, poil poil aux mains
When Julien, with hair on his hands
Raconte ses histoires
Tells his silly stories
Elles sont si bêtes, poil aux chaussettes
They're so silly, hair on the socks
Qu'on pleure dans nos mouchoirs
That we cry with laughter and use our tissues
Et la maîtresse, poil poil aux tresses
And the teacher, with hair on her braids
Qui pousse des soupirs
Who sighs
Quand Marion, poil au menton
When Marion, with hair on her chin
Attrape le fou rire
Gets a fit of uncontrollable laughter
Et puis y a moi, poil poil au doigt
And then there's me, with hair on my fingers
Qui marche à quatre pattes
Who walks on all fours
Pour chatouiller, poil au mollet
To tickle, hair on the calf
Ma voisine de droite
My neighbor on the right
Y a la Thérèse, poil à la chaise
There's Therese, with hair on the chair
C'est la plus rigolote
She's the funniest
Quand elle s'asseye, poil aux orteils
When she sits down, hair on her toes
On lui voit sa culotte
We can see her underwear
Heureusement, poil poil aux dents
Luckily, with hair on our teeth
Quand vient la sonnerie
When the bell rings
Tout le monde s'arrête, poil aux baskets
Everyone stops, hair on their shoes
Par ici la sortie
Time to go out and play!
Zoum zoum zoum-zoum-zoum
Sound effects representing the fun and laughter
Zoum zouzoum zoum-zoum, ouais!
More sound effects representing the fun and laughter, oh yeah!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Henri Destraz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind