Between 1963 and 1964, Dutronc was the guitarist for a group called El Toro et les Cyclones who recorded several EPs. During this time he could frequently be seen on stage at the Golf Drouot as backing guitarist for stars like Eddy Mitchell. He then went and did his obligatory military service. After his return he landed a job as assistant at Vogue Records to Artistic Director Jacques Wolfsohn. In this capacity he arranged songs (there is no indication that he wrote the lyrics for any of these songs) for several lesser known artists like Zou Zou and CLeo. In 1966 (or maybe the end of 1965), he was teamed with writer Jacques Lanzmann, then director at Lui magazine, to create songs for artists who were arranged to be the next big thing. Benjamin was the first of these singers. But his first EP did horribly and he was unceremoniously booted from Vogue. One day after hearing the demos that Dutronc had made of a song, Wolfsohn declared that Jacques should do the record for release. "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was unleashed on the world in 1966 and overnight one of France's biggest stars was born.
With Lanzmann in charge of the lyrics and Dutronc taking care of the music, the two created some of the most lasting songs in French pop history. There is almost no French person alive who does not know "Et moi, et moi, et moi", "Les Playboys", and "Le cactus". Other great songs include "Mini, mini, mini", "Le responsable", "J'ai un tigre dans ma guitare", and "L'opportuniste". The music on most of these songs is a British garage sound and Dutronc has often been compared to Ray Davies of The Kinks, and that comparison works musically as well. What really set Dutronc apart from the other singers of the time was his parody. His songs are not celebrating the "youth generation" but mocking it. Dutronc's biggest hit was the beautiful "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'eveille", with the classical flute player Roger Bourdin (not as some had thought Jean-Pierre Rampal) performing an essential part. In this song, Dutronc manages to paint a remarkably correct picture of the French capital in the early morning hours in the late 1960's.
Dutronc's "La fille du père Noël" and David Bowie's "Jean Genie" share a riff likely derived from the Yardbirds' accelerated version of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." The Belgian singer Arno recorded a medley of the Dutronc and Bowie songs ("Jean Baltazaarr") with the American singer Beverly Jo Scott that makes clear their similarities.
In 1973, Dutronc began a second career as an actor in the film Antoine et Sébastien, directed by Jean-Marie Périer, a career that would afterward occupy the greater share of his attention. Directors for whom he has worked include Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Lelouch and Maurice Pialat. He has also returned to recording in recent years.
Also in 1973, "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was adapted with English lyrics by Ray Dorset, leader of Mungo Jerry. "Alright Alright Alright" became a UK No. 3 hit for the group.
Interestingly, the early Dutronc songs usually had a classic late-sixties freakbeat backing (provided by session musicians) that has managed to win Jacques Dutronc a new audience in the hip retro clubs of the UK and USA in the late 1990s, and this continues today. (Ironically, most of the people who will be dancing to the likes of "Le Cactus" will have no idea what the words actually mean). Because of this, he is celebrated in the 1997 Cornershop song "Brimful of Asha" thus: "Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie/The Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music."
He currently lives in the town of Monticello on the island of Corsica.
Les Cactus
Jacques Dutronc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il est impossible de s'assoir
Dans la vie, il y a qu'des cactus
Moi, je me pique de le savoir
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Ouille
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Dans leurs portefeuilles, il y a des cactus
Sous leurs pieds, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs gilets, il y a des cactus
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Ouille, ouille, ouille
Aïe
Pour me défendre de leurs cactus
À mon tour, j'ai mis des cactus
Dans mon lit, j'ai mis des cactus
Dans mon slip, j'ai mis des cactus
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Ouille
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Dans leurs sourires, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs ventres, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs bonjours, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs cactus, il y a des cactus
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Ouille
Aïe
Le monde entier est un cactus
Il est impossible de s'assoir
Dans la vie, il y a qu'des cactus
Moi, je me pique de le savoir
Aïe, aïe, aïe
Ouille
Aïe
Aïe
Aïe
Aïe
Aïe
Ouille
Aïe
In Jacques Dutronc's song "Les Cactus," the lyrics suggest that the whole world is a cactus and it's impossible to sit down. The song is a metaphor for the prickly nature of life and how we all have to navigate the difficulties thrown at us. In each verse, the lyrics allude to the presence of cacti in various aspects of life, including wallets, hearts, and even in greetings.
The chorus repeats the idea that life is full of cacti and the singer seems to identify with this notion, saying that he "pricks himself" with this life-knowledge. The final verse stands out because the singer offers a solution, saying that he has put cacti in his bed and his underwear to defend himself against the cacti in the outside world.
The song is a fun and catchy commentary on the difficulties of life, and the humor in the lyrics helps to alleviate the seriousness of the message. The repetition of the "Aïe, aïe, aïe" and "Ouille" sounds in the chorus further emphasize the pain associated with navigating through life's prickly obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Le monde entier est un cactus
The world is full of prickly and uncomfortable situations that one cannot avoid
Il est impossible de s'assoir
These prickly situations make it difficult to find comfort or ease in life
Dans la vie, il y a qu'des cactus
Life is full of these difficult and uncomfortable situations, and not much else
Moi, je me pique de le savoir
The artist acknowledges the prickly nature of life and has become accustomed to dealing with it
Aïe, aïe, aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Ouille
An expression of pain or discomfort
Dans leurs cœurs, il y a des cactus
Other people are also dealing with their own difficult and prickly situations
Dans leurs portefeuilles, il y a des cactus
Even financial matters can be a source of discomfort and stress
Sous leurs pieds, il y a des cactus
Sometimes even the ground beneath one's feet can be uncomfortable and unstable
Dans leurs gilets, il y a des cactus
Even the things that should bring comfort, such as clothing, can be prickly and uncomfortable
Ouille, ouille, ouille
An expression of pain or discomfort
Pour me défendre de leurs cactus
The artist has taken measures to protect themselves from the prickly situations caused by others
À mon tour, j'ai mis des cactus
The singer has turned the tables and is now causing discomfort to others, perhaps as a means of self-defense
Dans mon lit, j'ai mis des cactus
Even the things that should bring comfort, such as a bed, can be made prickly and uncomfortable
Dans mon slip, j'ai mis des cactus
The singer is willing to endure personal discomfort to protect themselves from the prickly situations caused by others
Dans leurs sourires, il y a des cactus
Even seemingly pleasant things, such as smiles, can be a source of discomfort or pretense
Dans leurs ventres, il y a des cactus
The artist implies that others are not immune to the discomfort and pain of prickly situations, even internally
Dans leurs bonjours, il y a des cactus
Even greetings can be insincere or uncomfortable
Dans leurs cactus, il y a des cactus
A play on words - the prickly nature of life is reflected in the use of the word 'cactus' throughout the song
Aïe, aïe, aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Le monde entier est un cactus
Repeating the first verse to reinforce the idea that life is full of prickly situations
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Ouille
An expression of pain or discomfort
Aïe
An expression of pain or discomfort
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jacques Lanzmann, Jacques Dutronc
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Max Leb
Le monde entier est un cactus
Il est impossible de s'assoir
Dans la vie, il y a qu'des cactus
Moi je me pique de le savoir
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouille!
Aïe aïe aïe!
Dans leurs coeurs, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs portefeuilles, il y a des cactus
Sous leurs pieds, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs gilets, il y a des cactus
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouille ouille ouille!
Aïe!
Pour me défendre de leurs cactus
À mon tour j'ai mis des cactus
Dans mon lit, j'ai mis des cactus
Dans mon slip, j'ai mis des cactus
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouille!
Aïe aïe aïe!
Dans leurs sourires, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs ventres, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs bonjours, il y a des cactus
Dans leurs cactus, il y a des cactus
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouille!
Aïe!
Le monde entier est un cactus
Il est impossible de s'assoir
Dans la vie, il y a qu'des cactus
Moi je me pique de le savoir
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouille!
Aïe!
Aïe!
Aïe!
Aïe!
Aïe!
Ouille!
Aïe!
Liam
The whole world is a cactus
It is impossible to sit
In life, there are cacti
I'm pricking myself to know
AIE Aie Aie!
Ouch!
AIE Aie Aie!
In their hearts, there are cacti
In their portfolios, there are cacti
Under their feet, there are cacti
In their vests, there are cacti
AIE Aie Aie!
Ouch ouch ouch!
Ouch!
To defend myself against their cacti
In my turn I put cactus
In my bed, I put cactus
In my pants, I put cactus
AIE Aie Aie!
Ouch!
AIE Aie Aie!
In their smiles, there are cacti
In their bellies, there are cacti
In their bonjours, there are cacti
In their cacti, there are cacti
AIE Aie Aie!
Ouch!
Ouch!
The whole world is a cactus
It is impossible to sit
In life, there are cacti
I'm pricking myself to know
AIE Aie Aie!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Ow!
Ouch!
Christoph Frei
Un chanteur formidable, bravo Jacques !
ChainNonSmoker
Lovely, just found out TLSP's tune is cover - im glad they keep 60s rhythm and blues style alive to this day mainstream music has changed so much
Zimmerpflanze
OMG SAME
Raphaël Zaragoza
To non-french people -> You need to know that Jacques Dutronc didn't give a fuck about anything and was basically a troll in the music industry before the concept was ever mentionned :') Talented joker and first punk
Oliver Thinks
You can’t help but smiling when seeing Jacques Dutronc
Natacha Lerooy
This is really a good song and humoristic. I like the way Jacques Dutronc tries to amuse the public. Above all don't forget he's a handsome guy, un beau gosse like we say in french. I'm from Belgium.
In der Pfanne würzen
French Rock est sous-évalué . Jacques Dutronc m'impressioné plus, son son étais incrèdible et unique. Salutations d'Allemagne
Natacha Lerooy
@ In der Pfanne würzen oui le rock français est magnifique et sous evalué malheureusement, Jacques Dutronc est une icône. Parfois il est même avant-garde dans mes yeux, je l´apprécie beaucoup.
Godmightyfortress 123
One of my very favorite songs. Jacques is quintessential cool. Et Moi (cubed), in my opinion, is one of the best albums of all time. When I visited France in 1989, my host family sat me down and played Jacques. I was blown away and still am.
Pussy Funk - STOP putting the pussy on a pedestal
So, in 1989, the french family which hosted you was still listening to 1960s music ... ?! Well ... actually they were right to do so, and this means they had taste !