Dassin was born in New York City to Jules Dassin (Yiddish actor and film noir director) and Béatrice Launer. He began his childhood first in New York and Los Angeles, California. However after his father became a victim of the anti-communist policies of Senator Joseph McCarthy, he and his family moved from place to place across Europe.
After studying at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, Dassin moved back to the United States to go to college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan after doing very well on his bachelor's exam. After college, he moved back again to France where, while working at a radio station, a record label convinced him to begin to record his songs.
By the early 1970s, Dassin's songs topped the charts in France and he became well known. Probably as a recognition of his parents' left leanings, Dassin's records were officially released in the USSR. However, the political views of his parents were not well known to the general public in the USSR, and Dassin's popularity in the USSR should be connected to his talent only. He was also a talented polyglot, recording songs in German, Spanish, Italian and Greek, as well as French and English.
He died of a heart attack during a vacation to Tahiti on August 20, 1980. He is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Songs:Les Champs-Élysées ,L'été indien ,Ça va pas changer le Monde ,Et si tu n'existais pas, Salut ....
Je change un peu de vent
Joe Dassin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je ne sais pas où il va
Je ne sais pas où va ce train
Qui m'emporte loin de toi
Je n'ai pris qu'un vieux chapeau
J'ai sauté dans ce wagon
Qui transporte des chevaux
Tu étais pourtant jolie
Mais il faut de temps en temps
Que je change un peu de vie
Que je change un peu de vent
The lyrics to Joe Dassin's song "Je Change Un Peu De Vent" tell the story of a man who is leaving someone he loves behind to embark on a journey. He doesn't know where he's going or where the train that's taking him will end up. All he knows is that he needs to escape and try something new.
The man takes only a old hat with him and jumps on a train that's transporting horses. He's seeking a change of pace and scenery, willing to go wherever the horses go. The singer acknowledges that the person he's leaving behind was beautiful and special, but he needs to shake things up and explore different avenues in life.
The song evokes feelings of wanderlust and restlessness, as well as a sense of uncertainty and the need for change. It's likely that the singer is searching for himself and trying to find direction in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Je ne sais pas d´où il vient
I am unsure where this train journey originated from
Je ne sais pas où il va
I am unsure where this train journey is headed
Je ne sais pas où va ce train
I am unsure of the destination of this train
Qui m´emporte loin de toi
That takes me far away from you
Je n´ai pris qu´un vieux chapeau
I only took an old hat with me
J´ai sauté dans ce wagon
I jumped on this train car
Qui transporte des chevaux
That carries horses
Et j´irai où ils vont
And I will go wherever they go
Tu étais pourtant jolie
You were beautiful, however
Mais il faut de temps en temps
But it is necessary from time to time
Que je change un peu de vie
For me to change my life a bit
Que je change un peu de vent
For me to change my direction a bit
Lyrics © PUBLIC DOMAIN
Written by: Jean-Michel Rivat, Joe Dassin, Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind