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.
Ce Qu'Il Nous Faut
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
L'amour qui vient embraser nos coeurs
Ce qu'il nous faut, c'est un peu d'bonnheur
Afin d'pouvoir conserver nos amours
Ce qu'il nous faut, il nous faut rêver
Aller joyeux vers les lendemains
Ce qu'il nous faut, c'est prendre une main
Afin qu'à nous deux nous puissions rêver
Vous jeunesse folle
Qui jouez aux jeux de l'ennui
Passé est le temps de l'école
Écoutez donc ma philosophie
Ce qu'il nous faut ce sont des chansons
Que le matin mettra sur vos lèvres
Ce qu'il nous faut quand le jour se lève
C'est que nos lèvres aient déjà leur chanson
Ce qu'il nous faut, mais ce sont les rues
Pleines de cris, de rires d'enfants
Ce qu'il nous faut c'est un bout d'printemps
Dont on ira pavoiser les rues
Vous gens raisonnables
Que la raison a fatigués
Fatiguez-vous à être aimables
Et laissez-moi vous expliquer
Ce qu'il vous faut mais c'est être fou
Fou de la vie fou, de ses chemins
Ce qu'il vous faut, ne penser à rien
Afin de pouvoir, jour et nuit, rester fou
Ce qu'il vous faut ce sont des maisons
Faites de joie, faites de soleil
Ce qu'il nous faut, ce sont des merveilles
Que l'on mettra dans toutes les maisons
À vous Mademoiselle
Si vos yeux bleus deviennent gris
Et s'ils ne voient plus d'hirondelles
C'est qu'on ne vous a jamais dit
Ce qu'il nous faut mais c'est de l'amour
L'amour qui vient embraser les coeurs
Ce qu'il nous faut c'est un peu de bonheur
Afin de pouvoir conserver nos amours
Ce qu'il nous faut il nous faut rêver
Aller joyeux vers les lendemains
Ce qu'il vous faut c'est prendre une main
Afin qu'à deux nous puissions rêver
The song "Ce Qu'Il Nous Faut" by Jacques Brel is a beautiful and poetic expression of the essential things we need in life: love, happiness, dreams, and connection. It speaks to the universal desire for love to ignite our hearts and to bring happiness into our lives. Brel emphasizes the importance of preserving love and cherishing the moments of joy that come with it.
The lyrics highlight the need to dream and look forward to the future with optimism. Brel suggests that by taking someone's hand, we can share our dreams and make them come true together. The song encourages us to embrace our youthful and carefree nature, breaking free from the constraints of reason and routine. It suggests that by being a little bit "crazy" and letting go of our worries, we can fully embrace life and stay passionate day and night.
Brel also expresses the need for songs to accompany us in our daily lives. He believes that when we wake up, our lips should be filled with songs, bringing us a sense of joy and optimism. He describes the importance of lively streets filled with the sounds of children laughing and shouting, embodying a vibrant and colorful atmosphere. Brel suggests that this atmosphere is like a bit of spring that we can celebrate and enjoy, bringing happiness to our lives and our communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Ce qu'il nous faut, mais c'est de l'amour
What we need, but it is love
L'amour qui vient embraser nos coeurs
The love that comes to ignite our hearts
Ce qu'il nous faut, c'est un peu d'bonnheur
What we need is a little happiness
Afin d'pouvoir conserver nos amours
In order to be able to keep our loves
Ce qu'il nous faut, il nous faut rêver
What we need is to dream
Aller joyeux vers les lendemains
Go happily towards the future
Ce qu'il nous faut, c'est prendre une main
What we need is to take a hand
Afin qu'à nous deux nous puissions rêver
So that the two of us can dream
Vous jeunesse folle
You crazy youth
Qui jouez aux jeux de l'ennui
Who play the games of boredom
Passé est le temps de l'école
The time of school is over
Écoutez donc ma philosophie
So listen to my philosophy
Ce qu'il nous faut ce sont des chansons
What we need are songs
Que le matin mettra sur vos lèvres
That the morning will put on your lips
Ce qu'il nous faut quand le jour se lève
What we need when the day dawns
C'est que nos lèvres aient déjà leur chanson
Is for our lips to already have their song
Ce qu'il nous faut, mais ce sont les rues
What we need, but it is the streets
Pleines de cris, de rires d'enfants
Full of shouts, of children's laughter
Ce qu'il nous faut c'est un bout d'printemps
What we need is a piece of spring
Dont on ira pavoiser les rues
That we will go to decorate the streets
Vous gens raisonnables
You reasonable people
Que la raison a fatigués
Whom reason has tired
Fatiguez-vous à être aimables
Tire yourselves out by being kind
Et laissez-moi vous expliquer
And let me explain to you
Ce qu'il vous faut mais c'est être fou
What you need, but it is to be crazy
Fou de la vie fou, de ses chemins
Crazy about life, crazy about its paths
Ce qu'il vous faut, ne penser à rien
What you need is to think about nothing
Afin de pouvoir, jour et nuit, rester fou
In order to be able to stay crazy day and night
Ce qu'il vous faut ce sont des maisons
What you need are houses
Faites de joie, faites de soleil
Made of joy, made of sunshine
Ce qu'il nous faut, ce sont des merveilles
What we need are wonders
Que l'on mettra dans toutes les maisons
That we will put in every house
À vous Mademoiselle
To you, Miss
Si vos yeux bleus deviennent gris
If your blue eyes turn gray
Et s'ils ne voient plus d'hirondelles
And if they no longer see any swallows
C'est qu'on ne vous a jamais dit
It's because no one has ever told you
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Gabriel Wagenheim, Jacques Brel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurent16405
Il nous faut regarder, ce qu'il y a de beaux, le ciel gris ou bleuté, les filles au bord de l'eau, l'ami qu'on sait fidèle, le soleil de demain, le vol d'une hirondelle, le bateau qui revient...
Plus que jamais, dans notre XXIe siècle, tu manques Jacques.
Osvaldo Caviglia
Trop
Léa Mzs
Je n'ai pas de mots pour décrire l'émotion qui me submerge à l'écoute de cette chanson 🙏
Frank White
Des mots justes!
Judas Nanas
le Frisson
JEAN LUC GUINOT
Quel beauté ce poème, par un grand Brel, vraiment superbe
The talkeur
Je confirme
Gisèle Speckhals
Superbe ! Très bien aussi chanté par Barbara ! Quel texte ! ❤ 🌻 💘 🐤 🐝 🐞🌹🌸🌷⛅🌞
Dominique Gabriel NOURRY
Cela fait quarante ans qu' il nous a quittés , le grand Jacques ! que cette année ranime encore plus sa mémoire !
Martine Rivallant
Quel artiste de génie, mon idole de toujours