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.
Docteur
Julien Clerc Lyrics
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Les symptômes que voilà
Je suis pris par une douceur
Qui ne me ressemble pas
Docteur, il me faut vous dire
Que l’on s’inquiète pour moi
Il y a bien dans vos tiroirs
De cette fille là
Pas cette fille là, non
Docteur, je me réveille la nuit
Je voudrais me faire tout petit
Entre ses lèvres vermeilles
Entre ses doigts engourdis
Docteur je ne travaille plus
Je ne mange plus, je ne dors plus
Il y a bien dans vos savoirs
Quelque chose pour me guérir
De cette fille là
Pas cette fille là, non
Pas cette fille là
Docteur, je ne veux plus guérir
Je vous laisse à votre grimoire
Moi je m’en vais vers le pire
Et je suis malade d’espoir
Le matin j’ai envie de rire
Envie de pleurer le soir
Pas de remède au désir
D’antidotes au bon vouloir
De cette fille là, non
Docteur,
Non,
Docteur, Docteur
The song "Docteur" by Julien Clerc is about a man who is experiencing a type of love that he cannot explain. He visits a doctor to seek advice and help for his condition, but he expresses that he doesn't want to be cured of this girl he is in love with, even though he is experiencing symptoms like not being able to work, eat, or sleep. He speaks of how he feels small and vulnerable like a child, and she has power over him like a drug. He expresses his desire to stay sick with hope, despite the doctor's attempts to cure him.
The song can be interpreted in different ways, but it is generally understood as a love song with an element of addiction or obsession. The man is so deeply infatuated with this girl that he cannot escape the feelings that come with it, and he is willing to suffer for it. He finds himself at the mercy of his emotions, unable to function normally without her. The use of the word "Docteur" in the chorus gives the song a melancholy tone, as if the man is seeking help but knows that he will not find a cure for his lovesickness.
The song was sung by French singer Julien Clerc in 1982 and was a commercial success in France and Belgium. It was written by Étienne Roda-Gil and composed by Julien Clerc and Gérard Jouannest. The song has been covered by various French-speaking artists, including Serge Lama, Françoise Hardy, and Vanessa Paradis.
Line by Line Meaning
Docteur je ne m’explique pas
Julien Clerc expresses his inability to understand the symptoms he's experiencing.
Les symptômes que voilà
He elaborates on his difficulties by identifying the symptoms present in his body.
Je suis pris par une douceur
He feels a sense of tenderness, but one that is not characteristic of his personality.
Qui ne me ressemble pas
He emphasizes that the tenderness he's feeling is not normal for him.
Docteur, il me faut vous dire
The singer addresses the doctor and explains that he needs to talk to him.
Que l’on s’inquiète pour moi
He informs the doctor that someone is concerned about his well-being.
Il y a bien dans vos tiroirs
He anticipates that the doctor probably has a remedy for his condition.
Quelque chose pour me guérir
He hopes that the doctor has something that can cure him.
De cette fille là
He specifies that his condition is related to a particular woman.
Pas cette fille là, non
He clarifies that it's not just any girl, but a specific one causing him trouble.
Docteur, je me réveille la nuit
The singer tells the doctor that he has trouble sleeping at night.
Je voudrais me faire tout petit
He wishes to escape by making himself small - a metaphor for wanting to disappear.
Entre ses lèvres vermeilles
He wants to be between her red lips, which alludes to kissing.
Entre ses doigts engourdis
He desires the woman to hold him, even if it means suffering from numbness.
Docteur je ne travaille plus
The singer explains that he's no longer productive as he was before.
Je ne mange plus, je ne dors plus
He lists the things that he's no longer doing - eating and sleeping - which further shows his condition's severity.
Il y a bien dans vos savoirs
He again hopes that the doctor has the expertise to cure him.
De cette fille là
He reminds the doctor that his condition is still related to a specific woman.
Pas cette fille là, non
He still clarifies that it's not just any girl, but a specific one causing him trouble.
Docteur, je ne veux plus guérir
The singer expresses his reluctance to heal - he wants to stay stuck.
Je vous laisse à votre grimoire
He concedes to the doctor's expertise and will leave his fate in the physician's hands.
Moi je m’en vais vers le pire
He decides to welcome the worst-case scenario, indicating that he's already hopeless.
Et je suis malade d’espoir
He paradoxically calls himself sick with hope, indicating that he's still holding on to something, though it might not be rational.
Le matin j’ai envie de rire
He experiences mixed emotions: laughter in the morning to mask his wounds.
Envie de pleurer le soir
But he's unable to hide his sadness - he feels like crying in the evening.
Pas de remède au désir
He concludes that there's no cure to desire or longing.
D’antidotes au bon vouloir
He emphasizes that cure to one's longing is a matter of one's will or desire, and there's no lethal remedy for that.
Docteur,
He addresses the doctor again.
Non,
He reiterates his frustration, emphasizing that cure is unattainable.
Docteur, Docteur
He finally calls out to the physician for help, perhaps in vain.
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.