Julie Andrews got her big break when her stepfather introduced her to Val Parnell, whose Moss Empires controlled prominent venues in London. Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome singing the difficult aria "Je Suis Titania" from Mignon as part of a musical revue called "Starlight Roof" on 22 October 1947.
Andrews gained fame at a young age in 1950s Britain by acting and singing on light entertainment radio programmes such as "Educating Archie". She rose to international prominence after starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as musical films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).
Andrews had a major revival of her film career in the 2000s, in children's films such as The Princess Diaries (2001), its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), and the Shrek animated films (2004-2007). In 2005, Andrews made her debut as a stage director with a revival of The Boy Friend, in which she also made her Broadway acting debut in 1954.
She was married with Blake Edwards in 1965 until his death in 2010.
Matelot
Julie Andrews Lyrics
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True to the breed that bore him
Answered the call that held him thrall
His father's heart before him
Charles Louis Dominique sailed away
Further than love could find him
Yet through the night he heard a light
And gentle voice behind him say
Matelot, Matelot
Where you go my thoughts go with you
Matelot, Matelot
When you go down to the sea
As you gaze from afar
On the evening star
Wherever you may roam
You will remember the light
Through the winter night
That guides you safely home
Though you find womankind to be frail
One love cannot fail, my son
Till our days are done
Matelot, Matelot
Where you go my thoughts go with you
Matelot, Matelot
When you go down to the sea
Charles Louis Dominique Pierre Buchard
Journeyed the wide world over
Lips that he kissed could not resist
This loving roving rover
Charles Louis Dominique, right or wrong
Ever pursued a new love
Till in his brain there beat a strain
He knew to be his true love song
Matelot, Matelot
Where you go my heart goes with you
Matelot, Matelot
When you go down to the sea
For a year and a day
You may sail away
And have no thought of me
Yet through the wind and the spray
You will hear me say
No love was ever free
You will sigh when horizons are clear
Something that is dear to me
Cannot let me be
Matelot, Matelot
Where you go my heart goes with you
Matelot, Matelot
When you go down to the sea
"Matelot" is a touching song sung by Julie Andrews about a sailor named Charles Louis Dominique Pierre Buchard. The lyrics depict his character in a romanticized manner where he is portrayed as a loyal and adventurous sailor who sails far away from home but is still accompanied by his father's heart that guides him through the night. The song describes how Charles is a wanderer who travels the world loving and kissing women, but he eventually realizes that the love that he cherishes the most is the love symbolized by the light that guides him back home.
The song's chorus is about a mother's love for her son, which is depicted as strong and unconditional. The chorus expresses how no matter where Charles sails and no matter which women he kisses, his mother's loving voice will always be present in his mind to guide him home. The song presents the idea that despite all the fleeting romances that Charles experiences during his life, he is inevitably drawn back to the true love that he has for his family.
Line by Line Meaning
Charles Louis Dominique Pierre Buchard
The name of the man the song is referencing.
True to the breed that bore him
He had the same adventurous spirit as his father.
Answered the call that held him thrall
He couldn't resist the call of the sea and set sail.
His father's heart before him
He followed in his father's footsteps who also sailed the seas.
Charles Louis Dominique sailed away
He left his homeland to explore the world by sea.
Further than love could find him
He ventured so far that even love couldn't reach him.
Yet through the night he heard a light
In the darkness of the night he heard a voice - a hope for love.
And a gentle voice behind him say
It was a soothing and kind voice, following him from afar.
Matelot, Matelot
A sailor, a sailor.
Where you go my thoughts go with you
Wherever he goes, the voice follows him with sweet and caring thoughts.
When you go down to the sea
Whenever he sets sail, the voice wishes him well and hopes for his safety.
As you gaze from afar
When he looks at the distant horizon and starry sky.
On the evening star
The star that shines over the sea during the evening.
Wherever you may roam
No matter where his adventures may take him.
You will remember the light
He will recall the voice's warm wishes and guidance.
Through the winter night
Even during the harshest times, he'll have a guide from the voice.
That guides you safely home
The voice will always guide him back to safety.
Though you find womankind to be frail
Despite perhaps feeling women he meets are fickle or weak at times.
One love cannot fail, my son
True love will never falter or let him down.
Till our days are done
True love will endure until the end.
Journeyed the wide world over
He traveled far and wide across the globe.
Lips that he kissed could not resist
He was a smooth talker and charmer where ever he went.
This loving roving rover
He was a man who loved to travel and explore.
Charles Louis Dominique, right or wrong
He followed his heart and instincts, regardless of the consequences.
Ever pursued a new love
He always fell for new women he met along the way.
Till in his brain there beat a strain
But eventually he found the one he truly loved.
He knew to be his true love song
And he knew it was true love because it felt like music to his heart.
Where you go my heart goes with you
The voice follows him with true love and devotion.
For a year and a day
Even if he sails away for a whole year.
You may sail away
He may venture far away by sea.
And have no thought of me
But even if he forgets about the voice, the voice won't forget about him.
Yet through the wind and the spray
Even in the harshest storms and toughest times.
You will hear me say
The voice will always be there with sweet encouragement and support.
No love was ever free
True love always comes with a price and sacrifice.
You will sigh when horizons are clear
He'll feel a longing for the voice, even when the seas are calm and the future seems bright.
Something that is dear to me
The voice treasures their connection.
Cannot let me be
And can't help but follow Charles Louis Dominique wherever he goes.
Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.