In 1972, he formed the duo Jim et Bertrand with Bertrand Gosselin and began performing in the Eastern Townships. During the 1970s, the group was associated with Quebec folk music. Corcoran began a solo career in francophone music after the group disbanded in 1979.
In the late 1980s, he became host of the CBC Radio program À Propos, featuring French music artists to the English network's audiences. À Propos remains on the CBC Radio One schedule as of 2006.
He also portrayed the part of David in performances of the opera Nelligan in 1990.
Mon bel amour
Jim Corcoran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mains ouvertes sur les songes
Tu sais la carte de mon cœur
Les jeux qui te prolongent
Et la lumière chantée de ton âme
Mon bel amour navigateur
Et la lumière chantée de ton âme
Qui ne devine ensemble
Tout le silence, les yeux poreux
Ce qu'il nous faut traverser le pied secret
Ce qu'il nous faut écouter
L'oreille comme un coquillage
Dans quel pays du son bleu
Amour émoi dans l'octave du don
L'oreille comme un coquillage
Dans quel pays du son bleu
Mon bel amour navigateur
Mon bel amour navigateur
Sur la jetée de la nuit
Je saurai ma présente
D'un vœu à l'azur ton mystère
Déchiré d'un espace rouge-gorge
Mon bel amour navigateur...
The song "Mon bel amour navigateur" by Jim Corcoran is a beautiful and romantic declaration of love that speaks of the depth and complexity of a relationship. The lyrics depict a woman in love with her sailor partner, with the first verse describing his intimate knowledge of her heart and the games that they both enjoy. The sailor is portrayed as a navigator of both the sea and the soul, and the singer's admiration of his spirit is reflected in the lyric "Et la lumière chantée de ton âme" (And the sung light of your soul).
The second verse explores the idea of the couple together finding the answers to questions that nobody else can see or hear. They are connected intimately, and the lyric "L'oreille comme un coquillage" (The ear like a seashell) illustrates their ability to listen to each other profoundly. The couple is on a journey, and the singer recognizes that it won't be an easy or straightforward one, but their love will help them navigate it.
The chorus is a powerful tribute to the sailor's character, with the repetition of "Mon bel amour navigateur" emphasizing his status as an adventurer and explorer, both in the outer world and within himself. The last verse creates a beautiful image of the couple being together on a pier at night, with the singer recognizing the mystery and wonder of their relationship.
Overall, the beautiful language of Corcoran's lyrics, combined with the haunting melody and gentle rhythm, make "Mon bel amour navigateur" a powerful and moving love song.
Line by Line Meaning
Mon bel amour navigateur
My beautiful navigator love
Mains ouvertes sur les songes
Hands open to dreams
Tu sais la carte de mon cœur
You know the map of my heart
Les jeux qui te prolongent
The games that extend you
Et la lumière chantée de ton âme
And the sung light of your soul
Mon bel amour navigateur
My beautiful navigator love
Et la lumière chantée de ton âme
And the sung light of your soul
Mon bel amour navigateur
My beautiful navigator love
Qui ne devine ensemble
Who doesn't guess together
Tout le silence, les yeux poreux
All the silence, porous eyes
Ce qu'il nous faut traverser le pied secret
What we must cross, the secret foot
Ce qu'il nous faut écouter
What we must listen to
L'oreille comme un coquillage
Ear like a seashell
Dans quel pays du son bleu
In what country of blue sound
Amour émoi dans l'octave du don
Love emotion in the octave of giving
L'oreille comme un coquillage
Ear like a seashell
Dans quel pays du son bleu
In what country of blue sound
Mon bel amour navigateur
My beautiful navigator love
Mon bel amour navigateur
My beautiful navigator love
Sur la jetée de la nuit
On the pier of the night
Je saurai ma présente
I will know my presence
D'un vœu à l'azur ton mystère
From a wish to your mystery of azure
Déchiré d'un espace rouge-gorge
Ripped from a space of a robin
Mon bel amour navigateur...
My beautiful navigator love...
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gaston MIRON, Gilles BELANGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind