Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songw… Read Full Bio ↴Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in Belgium and France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French, he became a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many top performers in the United States, including Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, and Andy Williams. In French-speaking countries, Brel was also a successful actor, appearing in ten films. He also directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Jacques Brel has sold over 25 million records worldwide, and is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time.

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.

Le Docteur
Jacques Brel Lyrics

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Tiens, ça est la voiture du docteur
Est-ce qu′il va s'arrêter chez nous?
Ouais?... non... non
Ça est pour le voisin.
Ça est sûrement pour le petit
Il est vrai que ce gamin
ça fait longtemps que je dis qu′il est pas bien
Bien sûr, hein

I' va dans cette école d'où on ramène toujours des mauvaises maladies
Pourtant
Pourtant ils ont les moyens
Bof
Ils devraient l′envoyer aux frères du Sacré-Cœur
Il serait beaucoup mieux cet enfant

Emilie! Emilie! Arrêtez de causer comme ça sans arrêt
Ça est fatiguant

Tiens... il pleut... ils tardent à allumer
Boh! Peut-être pour des raisons d′économies?
Depuis les élections
On peut dire qu'ils sont couchés sur leurs sous
Ouais
Ou alors ils n′en ont pas
, Hé
Allez savoir
Vous me direz que ça ne me regarde pas,
Non peut-être?
Ça je voudrais une fois voir
Puis ailleurs, je m'en fous... ouais
ça c′est fou ce qu'il pleut
En tout cas, comme dit le fabuliste,
On est mieux dedans que dehors, hein
On est mieux derrière sa fenêtre

Tiens! Ça est de Jules sa sœur... Oh
Celle-là dans le temps je l′ai fréquentée un peu, ouais
Mais enfin... Ça n'a pas tellement marché
Il faut dire, hein... enfin
Je ne pouvais quand même pas savoir
Que ça était une lesbienne
Ouais, elle promène son chien jaune, ho ho
Il est vilain ce chien, il est vilain
On dirait qu'il est en bois
Et voilà! Et voilà, tiens! Allez
Ça est sur mon trottoir qu′il vient faire son caca
Bravo! Il va falloir que
Tiens! Y′a le docteur qui ressort
Bof... c'est que ça n′est pas bien grave
Ouais, il s'en va

Est-ce que Monsieur
Le jeune futur très grand artiste du deuxième étage
Ne pourrait pas un tout petit peu
Arrêter ses exercices de violon
Nom de Dieu de nom de Dieu
De nom de Dieu de nom de Dieu

Il est bien ce docteur, ouais
Il m′a dit qu'au printemps je pourrais ressortir
Pas trop... Mais enfin

Emilie! Emilie! Venez changer ma compresse

Ouais... Enfin... et
Il m′a dit que je pourrais marcher jusque la mer... et
Si il fait beau... de temps en temps... la messe... ouais
Il est bien ce docteur... et puis... pas cher
Il a une bonne voiture, hein
C'est une, heu, c'est un truc allemand c′est bien
Une bonne marque! ça marche... ouais

Tiens! Ça est de Jules sa femme
Ah elle est encore jolie hein
Celle-là aussi... dans le temps
J′ai un petit peu fréquenté
Mais... il y a beaucoup plus de lesbiennes
Qu'on ne pense finalement
Ouais... elle se promène
Tiens, avec son manteau beige
Il a dû coûter quelque chose ce manteau-là
Ça est sûrement pas son mari qui a pu lui payer ça
Non, non, elle a dû s′arranger un coup... enfin
Comme dit le fabuliste
Chacun son cul pour soi

J'aimerais bien avoir un manteau beige comme ça
Tiens... il pleut plus... il neige

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jacques Brel's song "Le Docteur" depict a series of observations and thoughts from the perspective of the singer. The song starts with the singer noticing the doctor's car passing by their house, wondering if the doctor will stop by. However, it turns out that the car is for the neighbor or maybe for the singer's sick child. The singer reflects on the child attending a school known for having students with illnesses, suggesting that they should send the child to a different school. The tone seems to be one of resignation mixed with mild cynicism.

In the second paragraph, the singer's train of thought shifts to the rain and the delay in turning on the lights. They speculate that the delay could be due to cost-cutting measures after the elections or the authorities not having enough funds. The singer acknowledges that it's not their concern and dismisses it. They express a preference for being indoors during the rain, as the famous storyteller suggested. The focus of this paragraph revolves around the singer's observations on society and the economic decision-making that affects them.

The third paragraph takes a different direction, as the singer mentions receiving a message from Jules' sister, indicating they used to have some kind of relationship in the past. They reflect on the failure of that relationship, mentioning that they couldn't have known she was a lesbian. The tone here is somewhat regretful, mixed with a humorous disdain for her walking a yellow dog that the singer finds ugly. The focus of this paragraph centers around personal relationships and the unexpected twists that can arise.

In the fourth and final paragraph, the singer notices the doctor leaving again, suggesting that the condition they have is not too serious. They mention someone on the second floor practicing the violin loudly, expressing annoyance with the noise. They then acknowledge the doctor's competence and the positive outcome of their consultation, mentioning that they might be able to go out again in the spring and attend mass if the weather is nice. The singer also appreciates the doctor's affordability and his impressive car. The final observation is about Jules' wife, who still looks beautiful, with the singer reminiscing about their past involvement. The mention of her expensive beige coat leads to a sarcastic comment about someone else needing to pay for it. The impact of this paragraph lies in the singer's reflections on their own desires and aspirations, juxtaposed with the observations of others' lives.

Overall, the song's lyrics portray the singer's stream of consciousness, moving from one thought to another, often reflecting on the lives of others and society at large. The lyrics create an atmosphere of observation, introspection, resignation, and occasional humor.

Le DocteurJacques Brel Lyrics

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Le Docteur
Jacques Brel Lyrics