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.
La Fée Qui Rend Les Filles Belles
Julien Clerc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A bégayé devant ton berceau
Le vent qui froisse les ombrelles
N'a pas soufflé sur ton trousseau
Mais l'amour qui rend les femmes belles
Dans ton lit
Fera son nid
Laisse donc rentrer les moissons
Ne pleure pas sur les saisons
Rien ne sert de geindre et gémir
Le bonheur finit par venir
Laisse bien ouverte ta maison
Aux enfants et aux papillons
Souris toujours aux vagabonds
Et un beau jour viendra le bon
La fée des histoires cruelles
A bégayé devant ton berceau
Le vent qui froisse les ombrelles
N'a pas soufflé sur ton trousseau
Mais l'amour des histoires éternelles
Dans ton lit
Fera son nid...
The song "La Fée Qui Rend Les Filles Belles" by Julien Clerc is a poetic ballad that speaks of love and happiness, with references to fairy tales and the magic of life. The lyrics describe a fairy who makes girls beautiful, who stuttered at the singer's cradle. The wind that ruffles umbrellas did not pass over his trousseau, alluding to the fact that his fate is not determined by external events or the whims of nature.
The song speaks of the importance of love in making women beautiful, suggesting that true beauty comes from within and is fostered by the love of a partner. The line "Laisse donc rentrer les moissons" (Let the harvest come in) implies a trust in the natural order of things and a belief that the good things in life will come when the time is right. The lyrics advise against despair and worry, suggesting instead that one should keep their hearts open to the joys of life, including children, butterflies, and strangers.
The song draws on the imagery of fairy tales and mythology, invoking the idea of a fairy who brings beauty, as well as invoking the "fée des histoires cruelles" (fairy of cruel stories), suggesting that life can be capricious and unpredictable. Ultimately, however, the song suggests that love and happiness can triumph over adversity, in a message of hope and optimism.
Line by Line Meaning
La fée qui rend les filles belles
There is a fairy that makes girls beautiful
A bégayé devant ton berceau
She stuttered in front of your cradle
Le vent qui froisse les ombrelles
The wind that rustles umbrellas
N'a pas soufflé sur ton trousseau
Has not blown on your trousseau
Mais l'amour qui rend les femmes belles
But love that makes women beautiful
Dans ton lit
In your bed
Fera son nid
Will make its nest
Laisse donc rentrer les moissons
Let the harvest come in
Ne pleure pas sur les saisons
Don't cry over the seasons
Rien ne sert de geindre et gémir
There's no point in whining and groaning
Le bonheur finit par venir
Happiness eventually comes
Laisse bien ouverte ta maison
Leave your house wide open
Aux enfants et aux papillons
To children and butterflies
Souris toujours aux vagabonds
Always smile at vagabonds
Et un beau jour viendra le bon
And one fine day the right one will come
La fée des histoires cruelles
The fairy of cruel stories
A bégayé devant ton berceau
She stuttered in front of your cradle
Le vent qui froisse les ombrelles
The wind that rustles umbrellas
N'a pas soufflé sur ton trousseau
Has not blown on your trousseau
Mais l'amour des histoires éternelles
But love from eternal stories
Dans ton lit
In your bed
Fera son nid...
Will make its nest...
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.