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.
Long Distance Call
Julien Clerc Lyrics
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Sur le carrelage italien je crois
J'ai soif je te regarde
T'es dans ton sommeil
Tu roules sur toi même
Long distance call
Plus tard dans la cuisine
Tu fais couler l'eau froide
Avec dans tous tes gestes
Un décalage horaire
Long distance call
Et quelques jours
Et quelques nuits
Sans faille
Comme un vieux marbre dans la chambre d’hôtel
L'absence de nos je t'aime
Marque le pas
D'une rhapsodie américaine
Long distance call
Quelques heures passent
Mais l'image garde une qualité numérique
Tu es assise dans un café familier
Monochrome
Long distance call
Et quelques jours
Et quelques nuits
Sans faille
Comme un vieux marbre dans la chambre d’hôtel
L'absence de nos je t'aime
Marque le pas
D'une rhapsodie américaine
Long distance call
Je marche pieds nus
Sur le carrelage italien je crois
J'ai soif je te regarde
T'es dans ton sommeil
Tu roules sur toi même
Long distance call
The lyrics of "Long Distance Call" by Julien Clerc describe the emotional pain of a long-distance relationship. The singer walks barefoot on Italian tiles and watches his partner asleep, unable to touch or talk to her. The first verse ends with the words "Long distance call," emphasizing the theme of separation that dominates the song.
In the second verse, the couple is in the kitchen, but their gestures and looks reveal the time difference between them. The water flows cold, and the singer feels the absence of the "I love you's" that used to punctuate their conversations. The image of an American rhapsody underscores the idea that distance is the main obstacle between them.
The last verse repeats the first one, creating a circular structure that conveys the repetitive, monotonous feeling of a long-distance relationship. The ending is ambiguous: the singer is still watching his partner sleep, and the long distance call persists.
Overall, the lyrics of "Long Distance Call" convey a sense of longing, isolation, and emotional detachment. The use of simple, concrete images (barefoot walking, cold water, monochrome cafe) accentuates the feeling of absence and disconnection. The song's slow tempo, sparse instrumentation, and melancholic melody enhance the mood of sadness and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Je marche pieds nus
I walk barefoot
Sur le carrelage italien je crois
On Italian tiles, I think
J'ai soif je te regarde
I'm thirsty, I look at you
T'es dans ton sommeil
You're asleep
Tu roules sur toi même
You roll over yourself
Long distance call
Phone call from a long distance
Plus tard dans la cuisine
Later in the kitchen
A ton tour tu me regardes d'un œil vide
In your turn, you look at me with an empty eye
Tu fais couler l'eau froide
You run cold water
Avec dans tous tes gestes
With in all your gestures
Un décalage horaire
A time difference
Long distance call
Phone call from a long distance
Et quelques jours
And a few days
Et quelques nuits
And a few nights
Sans faille
Without fail
Comme un vieux marbre dans la chambre d’hôtel
Like an old marble in the hotel room
L'absence de nos je t'aime
The absence of our 'I love yous'
Marque le pas
Marks the step
D'une rhapsodie américaine
Of an American rhapsody
Quelques heures passent
A few hours pass
Mais l'image garde une qualité numérique
But the image keeps a digital quality
Tu es assise dans un café familier
You're sitting in a familiar café
Monochrome
Monochrome
Long distance call
Phone call from a long distance
Et quelques jours
And a few days
Et quelques nuits
And a few nights
Sans faille
Without fail
Comme un vieux marbre dans la chambre d’hôtel
Like an old marble in the hotel room
L'absence de nos je t'aime
The absence of our 'I love yous'
Marque le pas
Marks the step
D'une rhapsodie américaine
Of an American rhapsody
Je marche pieds nus
I walk barefoot
Sur le carrelage italien je crois
On Italian tiles, I think
J'ai soif je te regarde
I'm thirsty, I look at you
T'es dans ton sommeil
You're asleep
Tu roules sur toi même
You roll over yourself
Long distance call
Phone call from a long distance
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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