Jean-Jacques Goldman was born on 11 October 1951, in Paris. He is one of 4… Read Full Bio ↴Jean-Jacques Goldman was born on 11 October 1951, in Paris. He is one of 4 children. His mother, Ruth Ambrunn, born in Germany and his father, Alter Mojze Goldman, born in Poland were Resistance heroes.

Jean-Jacques Goldman is a French singer-songwriter who started his career singing as a back up singer before starting in a rock band Taï Phong before starting his solo career. A number of years later he founded the trio Fredericks - Goldman - Jones, with the British Michael Jones and American Carole Fredericks.

Extremely popular in French-speaking countries, he is a well-known songwriter, composing a number of albums for Céline Dion. He has also collaborated with Johnny Hallyday, Patricia Kaas, Garou, Marc Lavoine, Khaled (Aïcha), Lorie and Florent Pagny

He is also well known in France for getting involved in the homeless charity "Les Restos du Coeur" for which he wrote the main anthem.

Juste Quelques Hommes
Jean-Jacques Goldman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Après les brumes, où commence le ciel
Où les aigles reculent, où manque l'oxygène
Où les grands froids règnent même au soleil
Aux neiges éternelles
Où rien ne pousse, où les âmes s'éteignent
Où plus rien ne frisonne
Plus rien ni personne
Juste quelques hommes

Quelques hommes

Au fond des fonds aux entrailles des mers
Où les sirènes sombrent en leurs sombres repaires
Plus loin que loin, aux extrêmes extrêmes
Où plus un être n'ose
Des astres éteints au sein des volcans même
Où les laves fusionnent
Ni rien, ni personne
Juste quelques hommes
Quelques hommes

Au plus sauvage, où renoncent les fauves
Dans les grands marécages où les humains pataugent
Au bout du mal, où tous les dieux nous quittent
Et nous abandonnent
Dans ces boues noires où même les diables hésitent
À genoux pardonnent
Juste quelques hommes
Quelques hommes justes
Quelques hommes justes

Justes

Justes
Justes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jean-Jacques Goldman's song "Juste Quelques Hommes" depict the extreme and desolate corners of the world, where nothing grows and humans struggle to survive. The verses describe locations such as the mountain peaks where there is a lack of oxygen and freezing temperatures, to the depths of the ocean where even the sirens cannot survive. Further on, the lyrics mention places where no living creature dares to venture, such as the extinct stars in volcanoes where only lava can fuse. The chorus, "Juste quelques hommes," which translates to "just a few men," emphasizes that despite such extreme conditions, there are very few people in these areas who still exist.

The song portrays a gloomy picture of the world where humanity is just a tiny part of the vast universe, and nature still reigns supreme. The final verse mentions the darkest places on earth where even the gods have deserted humanity, and just a few righteous men remain. The song highlights the perseverance of the human spirit and their resilience in the face of extreme adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Après les brumes, où commence le ciel
After the fog, where the sky begins

Où les aigles reculent, où manque l'oxygène
Where eagles retreat, where oxygen is lacking

Où les grands froids règnent même au soleil
Where extreme cold reigns even in the sun

Aux neiges éternelles
In eternal snows

Où rien ne pousse, où les âmes s'éteignent
Where nothing grows, where souls die

Où plus rien ne frisonne
Where nothing shudders anymore

Plus rien ni personne
Nothing and no one

Juste quelques hommes
Just a few men

Au fond des fonds aux entrailles des mers
In the depths of the oceans' guts

Où les sirènes sombrent en leurs sombres repaires
Where sirens sink in their dark lairs

Plus loin que loin, aux extrêmes extrêmes
Farther than far, to the extreme extremes