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 ....
The Guitar Don't Lie
Joe Dassin Lyrics
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Out in the back of a little cafe
And no one seems to hear so he closes his eyes
And just lets the music take him away
Singing songs of love, songs of broken hearts
And he's worn out his luck and his last pair of jeans
But you keep goin' on when you're livin' on dreams
The guitar don't lie
There's a lady he knows who often comes by
She's a nice little girl and she's into the blues
The request is the same song every night
She says it reminds her of someone she knew
A trace of her perfume floats across the room
Once they were close and they shared all their dreams
But now all he feels is a physical thing
They grow slowly apart, and the guitar don't lie
The guitar don't lie
Some nights it gets cold and it makes him aware
That time's movin' on and it's slippin' away
And if you look close at his dark curly hair
Under the lights there are traces of gray
He knows what it's all about feelin' down and out
'Cause he's been there before and he's seen it all
And you learn to survive with your back to the wall
It's a crazy old life, and the guitar don't lie
The guitar don't lie
The guitar don't lie
The guitar don't lie
The guitar don't lie
The song "The Guitar Don't Lie" by Joe Dassin tells the story of a musician who plays his guitar alone in the back of a café. Despite being ignored by many, he still closes his eyes and lets the music take over. He sings songs of love and breaks hearts, and though he's worn out by life, he continues to dream on. When things get tough, the guitar tells no lies, and he continues to play despite the passing of time.
The story being told in the song is about survival and perseverance. It highlights the importance of music in holding on to one's dreams and finding solace during difficult times. The mention of a lady who requests the same song every night is bittersweet, as it is a reminder of somebody she used to know. The guitarist and the lady slowly grow apart, and even as he grows old, he continues to play his guitar and tell his stories through music.
Line by Line Meaning
He sits all alone playing his guitar
He plays his guitar all by himself.
Out in the back of a little cafe
He does it in the backyard of a small coffee shop.
And no one seems to hear so he closes his eyes
No one is around to listen, so he shuts his eyes and gets lost in his music.
And just lets the music take him away
He allows the melodies to transport him emotionally.
Singing songs of love, songs of broken hearts
He sings tunes that revolve around themes of love and heartbreak.
And he's worn out his luck and his last pair of jeans
He has no more chance and has used up his only pair of pants.
But you keep goin' on when you're livin' on dreams
You carry on with your aspirations when you have nothing else.
And you feel it inside, and the guitar don't lie
One can sense the profundity of emotions within he and the guitar is serving as a reliable outlet for that expression.
There's a lady he knows who often comes by
A woman who is his acquaintance pays him frequent visits.
She's a nice little girl and she's into the blues
An amiable girl who enjoys the blues genre of music.
The request is the same song every night
She keeps asking for the same song every time she comes to see him.
She says it reminds her of someone she knew
She remarks that the song brings memories of somebody she once knew.
A trace of her perfume floats across the room
The scent of her fragrance spreads throughout the building.
Once they were close and they shared all their dreams
They were once each other's confidants and encouraged each other's goals.
But now all he feels is a physical thing
He only experiences a carnal connection currently.
They grow slowly apart, and the guitar don't lie
They are gradually drifting apart and the guitar doesn't mask the truth.
Some nights it gets cold and it makes him aware
There are times when the chill of the night triggers him to reflect.
That time's movin' on and it's slippin' away
He feels like clock ticks rapidly and opportunities escape rapidly.
And if you look close at his dark curly hair
Inspecting his appearance, one can behold traces of grey hairs.
Under the lights there are traces of gray
The illumination accentuates the streaks of greys that appear on his head.
He knows what it's all about feelin' down and out
He's familiar with losing direction and moral confidence.
'Cause he's been there before and he's seen it all
He speaks from experience and has observed a series of human triggers.
And you learn to survive with your back to the wall
You figure out ways of carrying on even when the odds are against you.
It's a crazy old life, and the guitar don't lie
Life is unpredictable, and the guitar's portrayal is genuine.
The guitar don't lie
The instrument represents reality.
The guitar don't lie
The instrument fully represents authenticity.
The guitar don't lie
The guitar is notable for its sincerity.
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.