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.
Il pleut pleuvoir
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Dans son halo de nuages
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Moi je crie bon voyage
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Aux flaques d'eau qui brillent
Sous les jambes des filles
Aux néons étincellants
Qui lancent dans la vie
Leur postillons de pluie
Je crie en rigolant
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Jour et nuit tournez en rond
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Moi je crie à pleins poumons
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
C'est toi
The first two stanzas of the song convey a sense of indifference towards the rain that may fall on the busy streets (les grands boulevards) and sidewalks (les trottoirs). The singer states that they don't care about the rain because they have their beloved (ma mie) by their side. This person is referred to as "toi," emphasizing their significance in the singer's life.
In the third stanza, the singer acknowledges the sun (le soleil) above them, which has turned its back (tourne le dos) and is hidden behind a halo of clouds. Despite this, the singer shouts "bon voyage," suggesting a sarcastic farewell to the absent sun. It may also be interpreted as a way of expressing the resilience and determination to carry on despite the lack of sunlight.
The fourth stanza introduces a playful and light-hearted tone as the singer notices the puddles reflecting the legs of girls (sous les jambes des filles) and the sparkling neon lights (néons étincellants) that release their rain-like droplets into life. The singer laughs and shouts amidst the raindrops, symbolizing a carefree attitude towards the challenges and unpredictability of life.
In the final stanza, the singer addresses the people who come and go (les gens qui s'en viennent et les gens qui s'en vont) on the busy streets. They encourage these individuals to keep going in endless circles (tournez en rond), while the singer themselves shouts with all their might (à pleins poumons). This can be seen as an expression of embracing the constant movement and fluidity of life, finding a sense of empowerment in the midst of chaos.
Overall, the song "Il pleut pleuvoir" by Jacques Brel speaks to the singer's unwavering joy and contentment despite the rainy and unpredictable circumstances of life. Through the presence of their beloved and the embrace of the challenges, they find hope (espoir) in the bustling city streets (les grands boulevards) and consider themselves truly rich (en suis riche). The repeated refrain of "C'est toi, c'est toi" emphasizes the importance and centrality of their loved one in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Il peut pleuvoir
It may rain
Sur les trottoirs
On the sidewalks
Des grands boulevards
Of the grand boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
I don't care
J'ai ma mie
I have my darling
Auprès de moi
Beside me
Car ma mie
Because my darling
C'est toi
Is you
Et au soleil là-haut
And up there, in the sun
Qui nous tourne le dos
That turns its back on us
Dans son halo de nuages
In its halo of clouds
Moi je crie bon voyage
I shout farewell
Aux flaques d'eau qui brillent
To the glistening puddles
Sous les jambes des filles
Under the legs of the girls
Aux néons étincellants
To the sparkling neon lights
Qui lancent dans la vie
That throw in life
Leur postillons de pluie
Their droplets of rain
Je crie en rigolant
I shout while laughing
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
And to the people who come
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
And to the people who go
Jour et nuit tournez en rond
Day and night going around in circles
Moi je crie à pleins poumons
I shout at the top of my lungs
Y a plein d'espoir
There is plenty of hope
Et j'en suis riche
And I am rich with it
C'est toi
It's you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GLEN POWELL, JACQUES ROMAIN G. BREL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vasso D
Il peut pleuvoir
Ζακ Μπρελ
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Dans son halo de nuages
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Moi je crie bon voyage
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Aux flaques d'eau qui brillent
Sous les jambes des filles
Aux néons étincellants
Qui lancent dans la vie
Leur postillons de pluie
Je crie en rigolant
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Jour et nuit tournez en rond
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Moi je crie à pleins poumons
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
C'est toi
Anne Hawa
Trop du bien cette musique 🎶
Vasso D
Il peut pleuvoir
Ζακ Μπρελ
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Dans son halo de nuages
Et au soleil là-haut
Qui nous tourne le dos
Moi je crie bon voyage
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Il peut pleuvoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Moi j'm'en fiche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
Aux flaques d'eau qui brillent
Sous les jambes des filles
Aux néons étincellants
Qui lancent dans la vie
Leur postillons de pluie
Je crie en rigolant
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Jour et nuit tournez en rond
Et aux gens qui s'en viennent
Et aux gens qui s'en vont
Moi je crie à pleins poumons
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
J'ai ma mie
Auprès de moi
Y a plein d'espoir
Sur les trottoirs
Des grands boulevards
Et j'en suis riche
Car ma mie
C'est toi
C'est toi
F-BTSC
👍
Mbark Mbark
😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😮😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄 اجد الاختلاف
Ayoub Imane
هل اجدثا
Martine Rivallant
Grand Jacques ♡♡♡
Mireille Carré
Je suis riche car Mamie c'est moi ! Je suis riche de la présence de tous mes petits enfants
Schauer Laurie
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Raymonde Amelie Sherman
Le grand Jacques ...xxx
Emelinetroude Troude
Le grand Jacques
Émeline