Hugues Aufray is a French singer, born on August 18, 1929 in Neuilly-sur-Se… Read Full Bio ↴Hugues Aufray is a French singer, born on August 18, 1929 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. His real name is Jean Auffray. He has Spanish ancestry and he began his career singing in Spanish.

Aufray represented Luxembourg in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, performing the song "Dès que le printemps revient" and finishing fourth. His most famous songs are "Santiano," "Céline," "Stewball" and in Spanish, "Barco de Papel."

Aufray is well known for his French adaptations of Bob Dylan's songs.

His sister was actress Pascale Audret (1936–2000) and his niece is actress Julie Dreyfus.

L'Homme Orchestre
Hugues Aufray Lyrics

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Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Joue-moi ta chanson
J'ai pas sommeil
Et la vie me mène seul n'importe-où
Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Fais chanter mes nuits
Dans cette Jungle-Monnaie
Emmène-moi loin d'ici

J'ai vu au soleil couchant, un empire s'effondrer
Aux sables s'envoler
Sous mes yeux blessés, mais toujours éveillés
Fatigué, épuisé et les pieds entravés
Personne à qui parler
Aux mortes cités de mes rêves émigrés

Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Joue-moi ta chanson
J'ai pas sommeil
Et la vie me mène seul n'importe-où
Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Fais chanter mes nuits
Dans cette Jungle-Monnaie
Emmène-moi loin d'ici

Conduis-moi très loin là-bas
Sur ton magique trois-mâts
Mes mains sont déchirées, mes orteils sont gelés
Mais comme hier mes bottes sont celles d'un vagabond
Prêt à partir pour n'importe où
À dormir dans un trou
Au cœur des grandes parades
Jette un sort sur mes ballades
Je veux m'en aller avec toi, je suis prêt à tout

Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Joue-moi ta chanson
J'ai pas sommeil
Et la vie me mène seul n'importe-où
Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Fais chanter mes nuits

Dans cette Jungle-Monnaie
Emmène-moi loin d'ici

Overall Meaning

In "L'Homme Orchestre," Hugues Aufray sings about a weary traveler seeking solace and escape through the music of a one-man band. The singer implores the performer to play his music and transport him away from his tired surroundings. As the song progresses, we learn of the traveler's struggles and desire to leave everything behind and embark on a new adventure. The chorus repeats a plea for the one-man band to play and transport him to a different place, away from his weariness.

The song's lyrics contain a sense of melancholy, longing, and yearning for something new. The traveler in the song represents a universal desire to break free of mundane routines and explore that which is unknown. The one-man band symbolizes hope, as his music provides an escape from reality and serves as a reminder that there is still joy to be found even in the darkest moments.

Interestingly, "L'Homme Orchestre" was written by Jacques Plante, who was a prolific songwriter and also wrote the original lyrics for "My Way." The song was first released by Hugues Aufray in 1967 and has been covered by several other artists, including the French singer Mireille Mathieu.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, monsieur l'homme orchestre
Addressing the singer, who is a person who can play multiple musical instruments at once

Joue-moi ta chanson
Play a song for me

J'ai pas sommeil
I'm not sleepy

Et la vie me mène seul n'importe-où
Life is leading me alone, anywhere

Fais chanter mes nuits
Make my nights sing

Dans cette Jungle-Monnaie
In this jungle of money

Emmène-moi loin d'ici
Take me away from here

J'ai vu au soleil couchant, un empire s'effondrer
I saw an empire collapsing at sunset

Aux sables s'envoler
Flying away with the sands

Sous mes yeux blessés, mais toujours éveillés
Under my injured, but always awake eyes

Fatigué, épuisé et les pieds entravés
Tired, exhausted and with my feet bound