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.
Les cœurs tendres
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'on y entre sans frapper
Y en a qui ont le cœur si large
Qu'on en voit que la moitié
Y en a qui ont le cœur si frêle
Qu'on le briserait du doigt
Y en qui ont le cœur trop frêle
Z'ont pleins de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l'heure
Qui conduit à Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur si tendre
Qu'y reposent les mésanges
Y en qui ont le cœur trop tendre
Moitié hommes et moitié anges
Y en a qui ont le cœur si vaste
Qu'ils sont toujours en voyage
Y en a qui ont le cœur trop vaste
Pour se priver de mirages
Z'ont pleins de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l'heure
Qui conduit à Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur dehors
Et ne peuvent que l'offrir
Le cœur tellement dehors
Qu'ils sont tous à s'en servir
Celui-là a le cœur dehors
Et si frêle et si tendre
Que maudits soient les arbres morts
Qui ne pourraient point l'entendre
À plein de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l'heure
Qui conduit à Paris
In "Les cœurs tendres," Jacques Brel explores various facets of the human heart, highlighting the complexity and emotional depth that lies within it. The song is a commentary on the different types of hearts that exist in the world, and how they all have their unique struggles and strengths.
The first two verses discuss the contrasting sizes of hearts. Brel notes that some people have hearts so large that others can simply walk in without knocking. These people are often open, welcoming, and receptive to others. However, there are also those with hearts that are too fragile to handle life's hardships.
The next verses describe individuals with hearts that are either too tender or too vast. Those with tender hearts are gentle and empathetic, and may even be seen as angelic. However, they may also be prone to sadness, depression, and melancholy. Meanwhile, those with vast hearts are always on a journey - either in pursuit of something or simply enjoying the thrill of the unknown. However, they may also be too attached to illusions and unable to face reality.
The final verse is a tribute to a person whose heart is both fragile and tender. Brel praises the person's vulnerability and openness, even though it makes them susceptible to pain. He wishes that even dead trees could hear and appreciate the beauty of this person's heart.
The song is a poignant reminder that every heart is unique, and each carries its own set of joys and sorrows. Despite our differences, we all have the capacity to connect, understand, and love one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Y en a qui ont le cœur si large
There are people who have large hearts
Qu'on y entre sans frapper
In which you can enter without knocking
Y en a qui ont le cœur si large
There are people who have large hearts
Qu'on en voit que la moitié
In which you can only see half of it
Y en a qui ont le cœur si frêle
There are people who have fragile hearts
Qu'on le briserait du doigt
Which you could break with a finger
Y en qui ont le cœur trop frêle
There are some who have hearts too fragile
Pour vivre comme toi et moi
To live like you and me
Z'ont pleins de fleurs dans les yeux
They have lots of flowers in their eyes
Les yeux à fleur de peur
Eyes brimming with fear
De peur de manquer l'heure
Scared of missing the moment
Qui conduit à Paris
Which leads to Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur si tendre
There are people who have tender hearts
Qu'y reposent les mésanges
Where robins can rest
Y en qui ont le cœur trop tendre
There are some who have hearts too tender
Moitié hommes et moitié anges
Half human and half angel
Y en a qui ont le cœur si vaste
There are people who have vast hearts
Qu'ils sont toujours en voyage
Who are always on a journey
Y en a qui ont le cœur trop vaste
There are some who have hearts too big
Pour se priver de mirages
To deprive themselves of illusions
Z'ont pleins de fleurs dans les yeux
They have lots of flowers in their eyes
Les yeux à fleur de peur
Eyes brimming with fear
De peur de manquer l'heure
Scared of missing the moment
Qui conduit à Paris
Which leads to Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur dehors
There are people who wear their hearts on their sleeve
Et ne peuvent que l'offrir
And can only offer it
Le cœur tellement dehors
A heart so exposed
Qu'ils sont tous à s'en servir
That everyone can take advantage of
Celui-là a le cœur dehors
This one wears their heart on their sleeve
Et si frêle et si tendre
And is so fragile and tender
Que maudits soient les arbres morts
Cursed be the dead trees
Qui ne pourraient point l'entendre
That cannot hear it
À plein de fleurs dans les yeux
Full of flowers in their eyes
Les yeux à fleur de peur
Eyes brimming with fear
De peur de manquer l'heure
Scared of missing the moment
Qui conduit à Paris
That leads to Paris
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Brel, Diane Dufresne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AnnRiba
Y en a qui ont le cœur si large
Qu´on y entre sans frapper
Y en a qui ont le cœur si large
Qu´on n´en voit que la moitié
Y en a qui ont le cœur si frêle
Qu´on le briserait du doigt
Y en a qui ont le cœur trop frêle
Pour vivre comme toi et moi
Z´ont plein de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l´heure
Qui conduit à Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur si tendre
Qu´y reposent les mésanges
Y en a qui ont le cœur trop tendre
Moitié hommes et moitié anges
Y en a qui ont le cœur si vaste
Qu´ils sont toujours en voyage
Y en a qui ont le cœur trop vaste
Pour se priver de mirages
Z´ont plein de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l´heure
Qui conduit à Paris
Y en a qui ont le cœur dehors
Et ne peuvent que l´offrir
Le cœur tellement dehors
Qu´ils sont tous à s´en servir
Celui-là a le cœur dehors
Et si frêle et si tendre
Que maudits soient les arbres morts
Qui ne pourraient point l´entendre
A plein de fleurs dans les yeux
Les yeux à fleur de peur
De peur de manquer l´heure
Qui conduit à Paris
@JoelStiefel-uj7jq
Les mots me manquent c est indescriptible
Un mot tout de même.. magnifique....
@souadriahi8305
Qu'elles belles paroles tu est l'ange l'oiseau qui propage tes chants a travers le monde pour donner le bonheur a ceux qui on en besoin merci Brel repose en paix
@minouminouche4647
Une belle chanson, un beaux texte!⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️du grand Brel!
@prandichristel4826
J ai jamais entendue des chanssons aussi vrais et reel que de brel j ai 47 ans et a présent les paroles me touche car certeines me fond panser a ma vie c est fou brel et un visionnaire ❤🤩
@jeanmarcguiriato6915
Du pur Brel.
@sariamira1172
Un vrai parolier la chanson de tous les temps un grand monsieur..qui ne meurt pas....le temps où l'Art......
@jeanmosca9229
J’aime ses textes à ce point que mon dernier passage à l’église se fera sur "Prière païenne " et "Le moribond "
@xanaorispaa3736
le meilleur, le plus vivant, plein d'amour, d'intelligence et de tendresse. Un génie, un ange.
@adelmechri8944
Tte àfait comme toi ange
@hafidprotin1966
@@adelmechri8944 ‹'