In 1990, some friends recorded her at the Petite-Vallée song festival without her consent, but she completed a performance there and was regarded as a huge success. The following year she won at the Granby song festival for her rendition of Jacques Brel's "Amsterdam". That same year she was invited to take part in the festival Les FrancoFolies de Montréal.
In 1993 she represented Radio Canada at the "Truffe de Périgueux" festival held in Périgord, France. She carried off the prize for Best Singer in the "chanson francophone" (French song) category. Following her success in France, she was noticed by songwriter Luc Plamondon who was looking for emerging talents to perform in a new production of his rock opera Starmania. There, Boulay portrayed the role of Marie-Jeanne.
In 1996, Isabelle Boulay provided the singing voice for Alys Robi in the television series of the same name. She released her debut album, Fallait pas, that year.
Two years later, came "États d’amour" an album that included some of her most popular songs. "Je t’oublierai, je t’oublierai", "La lune" or "Le saule".
The following years were filled with success and recognition all over the world. In that time her albums "Scènes d’amour", which included thirteen live duets and "Mieux qu'ici-bas" were released. This last one became an instant success.
"Au moment d'être à vous" was again recorded live in Montreal in 2002. Acompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Montreal, she performed her favourite songs from many composers.
"Tout un Jour" was released in 2004 and it included 14 new songs.
"Du Temps pour Toi" was recorded live at L'Olympia in Paris and released in 2005 and a DVD of the concert was also released.
In 2007, she went back to her childhood memories and songs and recorded a Country music album called "De Retour à la source"
In the spring of 2008 she released an album produced in France, "Nos Lendemains" that you can hear in her official site: www.isabelleboulay.ca
Le Petit Garçon
Isabelle Boulay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mon enfant, mon amour
Il pleut sur la maison
Mon garçon, mon amour
Comme tu lui ressembles
On est là tous les deux
On va bien jouer ensemble
On est là tous les deux
Ce soir il ne rentre pas
Je n' sais plus, je n' sais pas
Il écrira demain peut-être
Nous aurons une lettre
Il pleut sur le jardin
Je vais faire du feu
Je n'ai pas de chagrin
On est là tous les deux
Seuls
Attends, je sais des histoires
Il était une fois
Il pleut dans ma mémoire
Je crois, ne pleure pas
Attends, je sais des histoires
Mais il est un peu tard ce soir
Une histoire de gens qui s'aiment
Une histoire de gens qui s'aiment
Tu vas voir
Ne t'en va pas
Ne me laisse pas
Je n' sais plus faire du feu
Mon garçon, mon amour
Je ne peux plus grand chose
Mon enfant, mon amour
Comme tu lui ressembles
On reste tous les deux
Perdus parmi les choses
Dans cette grande chambre
Seuls
On va jouer à la guerre
Et tu t'endormiras
Ce soir il ne sera pas là
Je n' sais plus, je n' sais pas
Je n'aime pas l'hiver
Il n'y a plus de feu
Il n'y a plus rien à faire
Qu'à jouer tous les deux
Seuls
Attends, je sais des histoires
Il était une fois
Je n'ai plus de mémoire
Je crois, ne pleure pas
Attends, je sais des histoires
Mais il est un peu tard ce soir
L'histoire de gens qui s'aimèrent
Et qui jouèrent à la guerre
Ecoute-moi, il n'est plus là
Non, ne pleure pas
The song "Le Petit Garçon" by Isabelle Boulay is about a mother and her son spending time together on a rainy night while the father is away. The mother tells her son stories and tries to distract him from the fact that his father is not there. She tries to be strong and not show any sadness, but she eventually breaks down and admits that she doesn't know what to do without him. She tells her son that she loves him and they play together until he falls asleep.
The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and emptiness without the father present, but also the strength and resilience of the mother who is trying her best to make her son happy. The use of the word "seuls" (alone) throughout the song emphasizes the idea that they are the only ones there for each other.
The lyrics are also rich with symbolism and imagery. The rain outside can represent sadness and tears, while the fire the mother tries to light can symbolize warmth and hope. The stories she tells her son and the games they play together can represent the power of imagination and the importance of connection.
Overall, the song is a touching portrayal of a mother's love and the bond between parent and child.
Line by Line Meaning
Ce soir mon petit garçon
Tonight, my little boy
Mon enfant, mon amour
My child, my love
Il pleut sur la maison
Rain is falling on the house
Mon garçon, mon amour
My boy, my love
Comme tu lui ressembles
How much you resemble him
On est là tous les deux
We are here, just the two of us
On va bien jouer ensemble
We are going to play together
Seuls
Alone
Ce soir il ne rentre pas
Tonight, he is not coming back
Je n' sais plus, je n' sais pas
I don't know anymore
Il écrira demain peut-être
Maybe he will write tomorrow
Nous aurons une lettre
We will have a letter
Il pleut sur le jardin
Rain is falling on the garden
Je vais faire du feu
I am going to make a fire
Je n'ai pas de chagrin
I don't have any sorrow
On est là tous les deux
We are here, just the two of us
Seuls
Alone
Attends, je sais des histoires
Wait, I know some stories
Il était une fois
Once upon a time
Il pleut dans ma mémoire
It's raining in my memory
Je crois, ne pleure pas
I think, don't cry
Mais il est un peu tard ce soir
But it's a little late tonight
Une histoire de gens qui s'aiment
A story of people who love each other
Tu vas voir
You'll see
Ne t'en va pas
Don't go away
Ne me laisse pas
Don't leave me
Je n' sais plus faire du feu
I don't know how to make a fire anymore
Mon garçon, mon amour
My boy, my love
Je ne peux plus grand chose
I can't do much anymore
Mon enfant, mon amour
My child, my love
Comme tu lui ressembles
How much you resemble him
On reste tous les deux
We remain just the two of us
Perdus parmi les choses
Lost among the things
Dans cette grande chambre
In this big room
Seuls
Alone
On va jouer à la guerre
We are going to play war
Et tu t'endormiras
And you will fall asleep
Ce soir il ne sera pas là
Tonight, he won't be here
Je n' sais plus, je n' sais pas
I don't know anymore
Je n'aime pas l'hiver
I don't like winter
Il n'y a plus de feu
There is no fire anymore
Il n'y a plus rien à faire
There is nothing left to do
Qu'à jouer tous les deux
But to play together
Seuls
Alone
L'histoire de gens qui s'aimèrent
The story of people who loved each other
Et qui jouèrent à la guerre
And played war
Ecoute-moi, il n'est plus là
Listen to me, he is not here anymore
Non, ne pleure pas
No, don't cry
Lyrics © EDITIONS MAJESTIC - JACQUES CANETTI
Written by: JACQUES JEAN MARIE DATIN, JEAN LOUP DABADIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind