Henri Salvador (born July 18, 1917, Cayenne, French Guiana, died February 1… Read Full Bio ↴Henri Salvador (born July 18, 1917, Cayenne, French Guiana, died February 13, 2008, Paris) was a French singer. His father, Clovis, and his mother, Antonine Paterne, daughter of an native Indian from the Caribbean, were both from Guadeloupe.

Salvador recorded several songs written with Boris Vian with Quincy Jones as arranger.

In the 60's Salvador was the television host of several popular TV variety shows on French TV.

Henri Salvador and his song "Dans mon île" (1957) is said to have unwittingly inspired bossa nova in Brazil, as Carlos Tom Jobim would have exclaimed on hearing the song "This is what you have to do! Slow down the tempo of samba, add a good melody and top it with beautiful chords!"
Caetano Veloso, a renowned brasilian composer and singer, made a direct reference at Salvador in his song "Reconvexo" : "quem não sentiu o swing de Heri Salvador ?" (who hasn't felt the swing of Henri Salvador ?)

In (1964) Henri Salvador scored a popular French hit with "Zorro est arrivé" (which was inspired by the English song "Along Came Jones"). His song "Mais non, mais non" (1969) inspired Jim Henson' song Mahna Mahna. These kind of comedy songs made him well known in France. He is also famous for his good nature and rich, catchy laugh, which is a standalone feature in many of his humoristic songs.

He has a brother, André, and a sister Alice. He became a musician and comedian. Later he uncovered new French talents Keren Ann and Art Mengo.

Je Me Souviens De Vous
Henri Salvador Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je me souviens de vous
Tout au fond d'un jardin secret
Dans le soleil léger de mai
J'étais à vos genoux
Je me souviens de vous
Nous vivions à cent lieues de tout
L'amour nous tenait lieu de tout
Vos yeux guidaient mon reve fou

Dans le verger plein de parfum
Chantaient de gais oiseaux
Les feuilles frissonnaient
Là-haut
Je me souviens de vous
Les ombres bleues du soir tombaient
Tout contre moi vous vous serriez
La vie allait danser pour nous

La ville dort sous la chaleur de juin
Voici l'Eglise et le marché au pain

Voici la rue, le vieux portail disjoint
Qui cède et s'ouvre sous ma main

Je me souviens de vous
Fantôme d'un amour pâli
Amer plaisir des jours jolis
Jeunesse au cœoeur cassé
Je me souviens de vous
J'étais entré heureux, soudain
Je vous ai vus dans le jardin
Sa joue collée à votre joue
Dans le verger plein d'oiseaux gris
S'est arretée ma vie
Et je me suis sauvé
Bien loin
Je me souviens de vous
Amie perdue, ma vie, mon coeœur

Voici que se ferment les fleurs
Et voici que je pleure...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Henri Salvador's song, Je Me Souviens De Vous, speaks of a recollection of a past love. The singer reminisces of a time in a secret garden in May, where they were at the feet of their love. They were living in a place far from civilization, but love was their everything. The singer remembers how their love's eyes guided their wild dreams while the fragrant orchard vibrated with the songs of cheerful birds. The evening of blue shadows drew closer and they were nestled together, waiting for life to dance for them.

The imagery of the song evokes powerful feelings of nostalgia and lost love. The singer revisits this place, but everything has changed. The city is asleep under the heat of June, and the singer is at the market, where the smell of fresh bread permeates the air. They enter the old gate to the garden where they had once laid their eyes on their love's face pressed against another's cheek. The garden and the birds had turned gray, and the singer's heart stopped beating. They ran away, far from this place that held both cherished memories and bitter regrets.

The song's haunting melody accompanies the lyrics and makes the narrative even more poignant. It tells of the powerful emotion that memories of a lost love can evoke in someone.

Line by Line Meaning

Je me souviens de vous
I remember you

Tout au fond d'un jardin secret
Deep in a secret garden

Dans le soleil léger de mai
In the gentle May sunshine

J'étais à vos genoux
I was at your knees

Nous vivions à cent lieues de tout
We lived a hundred leagues away from everything

L'amour nous tenait lieu de tout
Love was our everything

Vos yeux guidaient mon reve fou
Your eyes guided my crazy dream

Dans le verger plein de parfum
In the perfumed orchard

Chantaient de gais oiseaux
Singing cheerful birds

Les feuilles frissonnaient
The leaves were rustling

Là-haut
Up there