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 ....
Mon village du bout du monde
Joe Dassin Lyrics
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Et sur ma route il y a des trous
J'ai vu tant de rues, j'ai vu tant d'églises
Mais les plus belles étaient chez nous
Mon village est loin, à l'autre bout du monde
Et ma maison n'est plus qu'une chanson
Comme les neiges, mes rêves fondent
Des Caraïbes aux Philippines
J'ai traîné ma carcasse un peu partout
Mais les chemins qui mènent à nos collines
Avaient des pierres douces à mes pieds nus
Mes camarades à l'autre bout du monde
C'est bien justice, m'ont oublié
Je leur adresse une colombe
Buvons, mes frères, à leur santé
Le vent s'engouffre dans ma valise
Pourtant la chance est souvent venue
Elle est bien brave, quoi qu'on en dise
Mais il ne faut pas trop dormir dessus
La pauvreté manque parfois de charme
Mais l'herbe est douce aux malheureux
Pas de discours et plus de larmes
Venez mes frères me dire adieu
The lyrics to Joe Dassin's song Mon village du bout du monde speak of the singer's travels and experiences throughout the world, but with a sense of longing and nostalgia for his childhood home in his village. As he packs his suitcase, he remarks on the holes he encounters on his journey, possibly symbolic of the challenges he has faced on his travels. Despite seeing many streets and churches on his journey, he still considers the most beautiful to be those from his village. He speaks of his village being far away, at the other end of the world, and his house reduced to a mere memory captured in a song. The cold echoes of snow melt away his dreams, while he wants to drink and raise a toast with his fellow travellers.
The chorus of the song speaks of his travels from the Caribbean to the Philippines and his encounters along the way. Despite the many places that he's visited, he still reminisces fondly about the path that leads to his village and the soft stones that have caressed his bare feet. He laments that his friends and companions at the other end of the world have forgotten him, but still raises a glass in their name. He laments that poverty lacks charm, but still reminds his fellow travellers that life can still be beautiful and worthy, even when faced with challenges. He calls his brothers to come and say goodbye as he departs on his journey again.
The song captures a sense of nostalgia for one's homeland, the longing for the familiar sceneries and the warmth and love of one's family and friends. In his travels, the singer meets many people but still finds solace in his memories and the reminders of his village. The song speaks of the beauty of childhood and how one's roots remain strong no matter how far and wide one travels.
Line by Line Meaning
Le vent s'engouffre dans ma valise
The wind rushes into my suitcase
Et sur ma route il y a des trous
And there are holes on my journey
J'ai vu tant de rues, j'ai vu tant d'églises
I've seen so many streets, I've seen so many churches
Mais les plus belles étaient chez nous
But the most beautiful ones were at home
Mon village est loin, à l'autre bout du monde
My village is far away, at the other end of the world
Et ma maison n'est plus qu'une chanson
And my house is nothing more than a song
Comme les neiges, mes rêves fondent
Like snow, my dreams are melting away
Buvons, mes frères, les vagabonds
Let's drink, my brothers, the wanderers
Des Caraïbes aux Philippines
From the Caribbean to the Philippines
J'ai traîné ma carcasse un peu partout
I dragged my body around a bit
Mais les chemins qui mènent à nos collines
But the paths that lead to our hills
Avaient des pierres douces à mes pieds nus
Had soft stones under my bare feet
Mes camarades à l'autre bout du monde
My comrades at the other end of the world
C'est bien justice, m'ont oublié
It's only fair, they forgot me
Je leur adresse une colombe
I send them a dove
Buvons, mes frères, à leur santé
Let's drink, my brothers, to their health
Le vent s'engouffre dans ma valise
The wind rushes into my suitcase
Pourtant la chance est souvent venue
Yet luck has often come
Elle est bien brave, quoi qu'on en dise
It's quite brave, whatever people say
Mais il ne faut pas trop dormir dessus
But you shouldn't sleep on it too much
La pauvreté manque parfois de charme
Poverty sometimes lacks charm
Mais l'herbe est douce aux malheureux
But the grass is soft to the unfortunate
Pas de discours et plus de larmes
No speeches and no more tears
Venez mes frères me dire adieu
Come my brothers, say goodbye to me
Lyrics © MUSIC 18, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Dassin, Pierre delanoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind