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.

Mazurka pour ma mie
Henri Salvador Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mon amie, que je suis triste
Quand le jour va se lever
Car il va falloir que je te quitte
Et retourner travailler

À travers les jalousies
Le soleil se colle à toi
Et sous sa caresse tu t'éveilles

Et ton sourire, c'est mon soleil à moi

Je vais partir pour l'usine
Je vais chauffer les fourneaux
Mais je pense à ma câline
Qui m'attend dans son hameau

La fumée de la chaudière
Emportera mes baisers
Et si tu te penches à ta fenêtre
Amie très chère, tu peux les attraper

C'est cinq heures à la sirène
Je repose mes outils
Je vais retrouver ma jolie reine
C'est maintenant que je vis

Elle a mis sa jupe blanche
Une fleur à ses cheveux
Nous irons tous deux
Au p'tit café de Marie-Blanche
Comme deux amoureux

Une mazurka commence
Et je te prends dans mes bras
Je me grise de la danse
Et je me grise de toi

Et ce soir, dans la nuit fraîche
Étendue sur le grand lit
Je mordrai tes lèvres

Et je mordrai ta peau de pêche
Ma joie, ma fleur, ma mie

Overall Meaning

The song "Mazurka pour ma mie" by Henri Salvador is a touching love song that tells the story of a man who has to leave his lover every morning to go to work but can't wait to be reunited with her at the end of the day. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as we see the man feeling sad to leave his love as the day breaks and he has to return to work. He describes how the sunlight falls on her through the window, how her smile is his sunshine, and how he wishes he could stay with her instead of working.

The second verse describes the man's daily routine at the factory where he works, but even as he's working he's thinking about his lover who's waiting for him back in their village. He imagines blowing kisses to her from the factory chimneys, hoping she'll catch them from her window. The third verse is where the song takes a more joyful turn, as we see the man finishing work and rushing to meet his lover. They go to a local café where a mazurka (a traditional Polish folk dance) is playing, and they dance together, lost in each other's arms. The song ends with the two lovers in bed together, the man promising to never let go of his love and cherishing every moment they have together.

Overall, the lyrics of "Mazurka pour ma mie" capture the bittersweet nature of love, as we see the man torn between his love for his work and his love for his partner. Through his words, he expresses his desire to be with her all the time, and the sweetness of their reunion after a long day's work.

Line by Line Meaning

Mon amie, que je suis triste
My friend, how sad I am

Quand le jour va se lever
When the day is about to break

Car il va falloir que je te quitte
For I will have to leave you

Et retourner travailler
And return to work

À travers les jalousies
Through the blinds

Le soleil se colle à toi
The sun sticks to you

Et sous sa caresse tu t'éveilles
And under its caress you awaken

Et ton sourire, c'est mon soleil à moi
And your smile is my sunshine

Je vais partir pour l'usine
I am going to the factory

Je vais chauffer les fourneaux
I will heat the ovens

Mais je pense à ma câline
But I think of my cuddle