His father was a UNESCO employee and his mother is from Guadeloupe. Many of the chansons he sings were written by Étienne Roda-Gil, a long time collaborator. His brother, Gérard Leclerc, is a political commentator on France 2.
For a time he was involved with French actress Miou-Miou, who in 1978 bore him a daughter, Jeanne Herry. Like her father, Jeanne has pursued a career in show business, albeit as an actress and comedian rather than as a singer.
Julien Clerc owes his fame in France to his leading role in the 1969 French language adaptation of the musical Hair. Since then he has sung a great many popular songs, and is generally considered one of the greatest francophone musicians of his generation. In 2003, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after transferring the rights to his hugely popular song, Partir, to the UN.
ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant
Julien Clerc Lyrics
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On croit que c'est dimanche
Et que c'est le printemps
Toi et moi, on s'en va regarder
Le soleil sous les branches
Et puis parler de toi
Et s'arrange
Il y aura des étés pour toi
Et pour moi
Tu verras
Ça ressemble à un rêve d'enfant
On croit que c'est dimanche
Et que c'est le printemps
La radio donne enfin des nouvelles
Nouvelles, et nous parle
Enfin un peu de toi
Si tout change
Et s'arrange
Il y aura des étés pour toi
Et pour moi
Tu verras
Ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant
On croit que c'est dimanche
Et que c'est le printemps.
In the song "Ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant" by Julien Clerc, the opening lines paint a picture of a nostalgic experience of childhood memories. The singer and his companion believe it is Sunday and that spring has begun. They decide to watch the sun shining through the branches of the trees and talk about themselves. The lyrics describe a feeling of wonder and a hope that things will eventually work out despite the changes that come. The theme of the song is the memories of a simpler time and the desire to hold on to them in a rapidly changing world.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats the opening lines, as it emphasizes the idea that the current experience is one that is almost surreal, taking them back to a childhood memory. He explicitly mentions that if things change and work out, there will be many more summers for them both to enjoy. The singer uses the line "Ca commence comme un reve d'enfant" as a refrain, and it emphasizes the idea of trying to hold onto the innocence of childhood while navigating the complexities of adult life.
Overall, Julien Clerc's song "Ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant" is about the memories of a simpler time and the longing to hold onto them. It's about nostalgia and the desire to find solace in memories when the present feels overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant
It starts off like a child's dream
On croit que c'est dimanche
We believe it's Sunday
Et que c'est le printemps
And that it's spring
Toi et moi, on s'en va regarder
You and I, we'll go and watch
Le soleil sous les branches
The sun filtering through the branches
Et puis parler de toi
And then talk about you
Si tout change
If everything changes
Et s'arrange
And gets better
Il y aura des étés pour toi
There will be summers for you
Et pour moi
And for me
Tu verras
You'll see
Ça ressemble à un rêve d'enfant
It looks like a child's dream
La radio donne enfin des nouvelles
The radio finally gives news
Nouvelles, et nous parle
News, and talks to us
Enfin un peu de toi
Finally a little bit about you
Ça commence comme un rêve d'enfant
It starts off like a child's dream
On croit que c'est dimanche
We believe it's Sunday
Et que c'est le printemps
And that it's spring
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN-CLAUDE PETIT, ETIENNE RODA-GIL, JEAN-PIERRE BOURTAYRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind