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.
la toison d'or
Jacques Brel Lyrics
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Hollandais téméraires et corsaires malouins
Cherchant des Amériques, vous ne cherchâtes rien
Que l’aventure de la Toison d’or
Et vous, les philosophes, vous, sages d’Orient
Alchimistes pointus et sorciers d’à présent
En cherchant la sagesse, vous n’avez rien cherché
Et vous, les empereurs, roitelets ou serins
Vous, les vrais Charlemagne, vous, les faux Charles Quint
En cherchant la puissance, vous ne cherchâtes rien
Que les reflets de la Toison d’or
Et vous, preux chevaliers, assoiffés de grandeur
Vous, chasseurs de Saint Graal, d’oriflammes, d’honneurs
Cherchant la victoire, vous ne cherchâtes rien
Que le panache de la Toison d’or
Et vous, tous les poètes, les rêveurs mal debout
Discoureurs de l’amour, pour des cieux andalous
En écoutant vos muses, n’avez rien chanté d’autre
Que le vieux rêve de la Toison d’or
Et vous, gens d’aujourd’hui, d’aujourd’hui, de demain
Vous, balayeurs d’idoles, de dieux et de malins
Cherchant la vérité, vous ne recherchez rien
Que la clarté de la Toison d’or
The lyrics to Jacques Brel's song "La Toison d'Or" explore the different pursuits and desires of various groups throughout history, ultimately highlighting the universal search for something beyond material wealth and power. The song begins by addressing the conquistadors, ancient navigators, daring Dutchmen, and corsairs from Saint-Malo who sought adventure in the Americas but ultimately found nothing more than the allure of the Golden Fleece.
It then moves on to philosophers, wise men from the East, precise alchemists, and present-day sorcerers who, in their search for wisdom, discovered nothing more than the secrets associated with the Golden Fleece. The song continues to address emperors, kings, and rulers of various degrees of importance, including both true and false successors to Charlemagne and Charles Quint. Despite their pursuit of power, they too found only the reflections of the Golden Fleece.
The lyrics then shift to brave knights, thirsty for greatness, who sought the Holy Grail, the banners of honor, and victory. Yet, in their pursuit, they too found only the splendor and panache associated with the Golden Fleece. All the poets and dreamers are then addressed, those who romanticize love and yearn for the enchantment of Andalusian skies. However, even in listening to their muses, they sang of nothing other than the age-old dream of the Golden Fleece.
Finally, the song addresses people of today and tomorrow, those who sweep away idols, gods, and schemers, searching for truth. Yet, even in their pursuit of clarity, they are, in fact, seeking nothing more than the brightness and enlightenment that the Golden Fleece represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Et vous, conquistadors, navigateurs anciens
And you, conquistadors, ancient navigators
Hollandais téméraires et corsaires malouins
Fearless Dutchmen and Malouin corsairs
Cherchant des Amériques, vous ne cherchâtes rien
Seeking the Americas, you found nothing
Que l’aventure de la Toison d’or
But the adventure of the Golden Fleece
Et vous, les philosophes, vous, sages d’Orient
And you, philosophers, wise men of the East
Alchimistes pointus et sorciers d’à présent
Sharp alchemists and present-day sorcerers
En cherchant la sagesse, vous n’avez rien cherché
In seeking wisdom, you found nothing
Que les secrets de la Toison d’or
But the secrets of the Golden Fleece
Et vous, les empereurs, roitelets ou serins
And you, emperors, petty kings or canaries
Vous, les vrais Charlemagne, vous, les faux Charles Quint
You, the true Charlemagnes, you, the false Charles V
En cherchant la puissance, vous ne cherchâtes rien
In seeking power, you found nothing
Que les reflets de la Toison d’or
But the reflections of the Golden Fleece
Et vous, preux chevaliers, assoiffés de grandeur
And you, valiant knights, thirsty for greatness
Vous, chasseurs de Saint Graal, d’oriflammes, d’honneurs
You, seekers of the Holy Grail, of banners, of honors
Cherchant la victoire, vous ne cherchâtes rien
In seeking victory, you found nothing
Que le panache de la Toison d’or
But the splendor of the Golden Fleece
Et vous, tous les poètes, les rêveurs mal debout
And you, all the poets, the dreamers half-asleep
Discoureurs de l’amour, pour des cieux andalous
Speakers of love, for Andalusian heavens
En écoutant vos muses, n’avez rien chanté d’autre
By listening to your muses, you sang nothing else
Que le vieux rêve de la Toison d’or
But the old dream of the Golden Fleece
Et vous, gens d’aujourd’hui, d’aujourd’hui, de demain
And you, people of today, of today, of tomorrow
Vous, balayeurs d’idoles, de dieux et de malins
You, sweepers of idols, of gods and clever ones
Cherchant la vérité, vous ne recherchez rien
In seeking the truth, you search for nothing
Que la clarté de la Toison d’or
But for the clarity of the Golden Fleece
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques BREL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christophe D
Une des rares chansons de Brel que j'ignorais. Composée semble-t-il en 62 on y retrouve des thèmes proches de "sur la place" (antérieur), de "regarde bien petit" et de "Les Marquises". En tout cas, une superbe réussite encore !!! (Qui sont les ânes qui n'aiment pas ? Des fans échappés de Me Gim's ou David Getta ?)
NPC
La grandeur de Jacques Brel <3
VICTOR BALIT
Magnifique diapo!
Geoff Aldwinckle
can anyone tell me the background to this ? i am fascinated as i possess every Brel album, but this song is on none of them. As usual for Brel, it is absolutely beautiful.
Geoff Aldwinckle
@racha baroud yes I found that version recently. Merci again!
Geoff Aldwinckle
@racha baroud merci.
racha baroud
composed for a play of Corneille
racha baroud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbuJMFj_9sQ&list=RDWbKPXEF2bsU&index=2
Philippe Laglu
It's a song that was recorded but remained unknown until 2013
Matthieu Le Donge
Une belle chanson que je ne connaissais pas.