Brel was born on 8th April 1929 in Schaarbeek, a district of Brussels, and lived half of his life in Paris. He died of lung cancer on 9th October 1978 in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.
Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originating from Zandvoorde, near Ieper. Brel's father was co-owner of a cardboard factory and Brel started his professional life at that firm, apparently destined to follow in his father's footsteps. However he had no interest in it, showing instead an interest in the arts, having joined the Catholic-humanist youth organisation Franche Cordée, where he did some singing and acting. At Franche Cordée he met Thérèse Michielsen ('Miche'), and they married in 1950.
In the early 1950s Brel achieved some minor success in Belgium, singing his own songs. A 78rpm record ("La foire"/"Il y a") was released as a result. From 1954 Brel seriously pursued a singing career. He quit his job and moved to Paris, writing music and singing in the city's cabarets and music-halls.. In January 1955 he supported in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen. After some success his wife and daughters joined him from Belgium. By 1956 he was touring Europe and he recorded the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour", which brought him his first major recognition. He appeared in a show with Maurice Chevalier and Michel Legrand.
By the end of the 1950s Miche and Brel's three daughters moved to Brussels. He and his family led separate lives from then on. Under the influence of his friend Georges Pasquier ('Jojo') and pianists Gérard Jouannest and François Rauber, Brel's style changed. He was no longer a Catholic-humanist troubadour, but sang grimmer songs about love, death, and the struggle that is life. The music became more complex and his themes more diverse, exploring love ("Je t'aime", "Litanies pour un retour"), society ("Les singes", "Les bourgeois", "Jaurès") and spiritual concerns ("Le bon Dieu", "Dites, si c'était vrai", "Fernand"). His work is not limited to one style. He was as proficient in comic compositions ("Le lion", "Comment tuer l'amant de sa femme...") as in more emotional ones ("Voir un ami pleurer", "Fils de...", "Jojo"). He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, and is widely recognised in French-speaking countries as one of the best French-language composers of all time.
Brel himself occasionally included parts of his songs in Flemish (Dutch), one of the three official languages of Belgium, as in Marieke. He also recorded eight other Flemish versions of songs, such as Mijn vlakke land (Le plat Pays), Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne me quitte pas), Rosa, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois), and De Nuttelozen van de Nacht (Les paumés du petit matin). Since his own command of the language was poor, these were translated by Ernst van Altena, renowned translator of French song. Although France was Brel's "spiritual home" and he expressed contradictory statements about his native Belgium, some of his best compositions pay tribute to Belgium.
A very successful theatrical review of his songs, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris," was launched in 1968. It featured English translations of his songs, and it was late made into a film.
To English-speaking listeners, Brel's best-known song is probably "Seasons in the Sun," a hit for Terry Jacks in 1973. Its English lyrics are a translation by Rod McKuen of Brel's "Le Moribond."
For twenty years he was a major star gaining recognition beyond French audiences. In 1973 he retreated to French Polynesia, remaining there until 1977 when he returned to Paris and recorded his well-received final album.
A heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. He died in 1978 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia only a few yards away from painter Paul Gauguin.
Alone
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a new game to play
Then we tell our first lie
And see our love go away
We rush on, you and I
We don't need love at all
We need thrills, we need speed
Then we stumble and fall
And we find, we're alone
We're loyal, you and I
To flowers that are dead
We forget how to cry
We save photos instead
And we find, we're alone
We hear guns, you and I
We ask what is that
Then we open the Times
We're informed where it's at
And we find, we're alone
We're moral, you and I
We stand for what's right
We slaughter all evil
By dawn's early light
And we find, we're alone
We're lucky, you and I
We're alive and secure
But in the bank and the church
We can never feel sure
And we find, we're alone
We've made it, you and I
We have glory and fame
Yet we never know why
We feel so ashamed
And we find, we're alone
We have power, you and I
But what good is that now
We would build a new world
If we only knew how
And we find, we're alone
We are old, you and I
We beg warmth from the sun
In the dreams that we dream
We ask what have we done
And we find, we're alone
The lyrics of Jacques Brel's song "Alone" explore themes of love, deceit, disillusionment, mortality, and the universal feeling of loneliness. The song consists of several verses, each portraying a different aspect of life and the realization that despite our achievements and pursuits, at the end of the day, we are still left feeling alone.
In the first verse, Brel sings about the initial excitement and joy that love brings. However, he mentions that the relationship quickly deteriorates as lies are told, leading to the love they once shared dissipating. This highlights the fragile nature of love and how easily it can be broken, leaving us feeling isolated.
The second verse talks about the pursuit of thrills and excitement in life, suggesting that sometimes we prioritize temporary pleasures over the deeper connection of love. However, Brel notes that this pursuit often leads to stumbling and falling, underscoring the emptiness and isolation that comes with living solely for momentary pleasure.
The next verse discusses loyalty to things or people that are no longer alive or present. Brel suggests that instead of grieving and expressing emotions, we replace them with physical keepsakes, such as photographs. This implies a detachment from truly feeling and connecting with others, leading to a sense of loneliness.
In the fourth verse, Brel reflects on the violence and conflicts present in the world. He mentions hearing guns and seeking information in newspapers, indicating a lack of understanding and a disconnection from the realities of the world. This ignorance can lead to a sense of isolation, as we struggle to comprehend the chaos and violence surrounding us.
The following verse describes a moral stance, where Brel sings about standing up for what is right and fighting against evil. However, the line "we find, we're alone" implies that even in our efforts to create a better world, we may still feel isolated and separated from others.
The sixth verse speaks of being lucky and secure in life, but simultaneously feeling uncertain and unable to find true solace in wealth or religion. It highlights the paradox of societal success, where material achievements fail to alleviate the sense of loneliness and vulnerability.
In the next verse, Brel addresses the pursuit of glory and fame. Despite achieving success and recognition, he expresses a deep feeling of shame and questions the purpose and meaning behind his achievements. This suggests that external validation and accomplishments do not always provide the fulfillment and connection we seek, leaving us feeling alone.
The final verse depicts old age and the reflection on a life lived. Brel sings about seeking warmth from the sun and questioning the impact of their actions and choices. This suggests a contemplation of mortality and a realization that despite the experiences and achievements throughout life, there remains an inherent loneliness that cannot be escaped.
Overall, "Alone" by Jacques Brel provides a profound reflection on the complexities of life, our pursuit of different desires, our attempts at connection, and the pervasive feeling of isolation that we all experience to varying degrees.
Line by Line Meaning
We find love, you and I
We discover the feeling of love together
It's a new game to play
Love is like a fresh and exciting game
Then we tell our first lie
We betray each other and start deceiving
And see our love go away
As a result, our love relationship comes to an end
And we find, we're alone
We realize that we are left lonely
We rush on, you and I
We continue moving forward impulsively
We don't need love at all
We believe that love is unnecessary
We need thrills, we need speed
We seek excitement and adrenaline
Then we stumble and fall
But eventually, we make mistakes and fail
And we find, we're alone
Once again, we discover our solitude
We're loyal, you and I
We remain committed to things that no longer live or exist
To flowers that are dead
We hold onto faded memories rather than expressing our emotions
We forget how to cry
We lose the ability to genuinely experience and express sadness
We save photos instead
Preserving photographs becomes our way of holding onto the past
And we find, we're alone
We come to the realization that we are isolated
We hear guns, you and I
We become aware of violence and conflict
We ask what is that
We inquire about the source of the disturbance
Then we open the Times
We read the news to understand the current events
We're informed where it's at
This helps us gain knowledge about the situation
And we find, we're alone
Nevertheless, we discover our loneliness once more
We're moral, you and I
We hold strong values and principles
We stand for what's right
We fight against evil and injustice
We slaughter all evil
We mercilessly eliminate all forms of wickedness
By dawn's early light
Under the early morning sky
And we find, we're alone
However, we come to the realization that we are isolated
We're lucky, you and I
We are fortunate and secure in our lives
We're alive and secure
We are breathing and protected
But in the bank and the church
Regardless, even in places of authority or devotion
We can never feel sure
We can never truly feel certain about our existence
And we find, we're alone
Once again, we realize the feeling of solitude
We've made it, you and I
Together, we have achieved success and recognition
We have glory and fame
We possess honor and popularity
Yet we never know why
However, we remain uncertain about the reasons behind it
We feel so ashamed
As a result, we experience deep remorse and guilt
And we find, we're alone
In the end, we confront our solitude once more
We have power, you and I
We hold significant influence and authority
But what good is that now
Yet, we question the purpose and usefulness of our power
We would build a new world
We wish to create a better society
If we only knew how
If only we possessed the knowledge and solution
And we find, we're alone
Once again, we discover our isolation
We are old, you and I
In our old age, both of us together
We beg warmth from the sun
We seek comfort and solace from the sun's rays
In the dreams that we dream
Within the dreams we envision
We ask what have we done
We question the impact and significance of our actions
And we find, we're alone
Ultimately, we realize our state of loneliness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mary M. Brandes
on La Valse à Mille Temps
I love Jacques Brel songs.