Paul-Alain Leclerc, popularly known as Julien Clerc (born October 4, 1947 i… Read Full Bio ↴Paul-Alain Leclerc, popularly known as Julien Clerc (born October 4, 1947 in Paris) is a prominent French singer, pianist, and composer.

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.

Ma sirène
Julien Clerc Lyrics

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Tous les grillons tous les bruits d'fond qui trainent
Les oiseaux de jour et de nuit
tous ceux qui savent pousser des cris
les sourirs et les chiennes les pies les hyènes
les gens qui parlent comme on se parle tout seul
qui s'égosillent à ne rien dire
ceux qui s'ecoutent avec plaisir
qui murmurent ou qui gueulent

qui chantent ou qui soupirent

faites le silence pour que ma sirène me ramène à son rocher
l'écueil de mes nuits où j'aime tant me jeter
faites le silence pour ma sirène e ramène à son rocher
où me fracasser san peine et san regret

quand elle me chante si je l'entende pas
ca peut suffrire à la faire taire
en me laissant les pieds sur terre
dans le pays tout plat
des hommes au coeur de pierre

faites le silence pour que ma sirène me ramène à son rocher
l'écueil de mes nuits où j'aime tant me jeter
faites le silence pour ma sirène e ramène à son rocher
où me fracasser san peine et san regret

faites le silence

Overall Meaning

The song "Ma sirène" by Julien Clerc is a beautiful song about longing and the power of memory. The lyrics describe the singer's longing for his siren, a mythical creature who lures sailors to their death, to come back to her rock. The singer is asking for silence so that he can remember his siren and feel the powerful connection he has to her. He is asking for the silence of the night to quiet all of the other sounds so that he can hear her song and be with her again.

Throughout the song, Julien uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe his feelings. He speaks about the sounds of the night, but also the sounds of people who talk and make noise. He likens these sounds to animals that make noise and people who speak without anything important to say. Julien is asking for silence not just to remember his siren, but also to be free from the clutter and noise of everyday life.

Line by Line Meaning

Tous les grillons tous les bruits d'fond qui trainent
All the crickets, all the background noises, that linger around

Les oiseaux de jour et de nuit
The birds during the day and the night

tous ceux qui savent pousser des cris
Everyone who knows how to make noise

les sourirs et les chiennes les pies les hyènes
The smiles and the bitches, the magpies and the hyenas

les gens qui parlent comme on se parle tout seul
People who talk as if they were talking to themselves

qui s'égosillent à ne rien dire
Shouting without saying anything

ceux qui s'ecoutent avec plaisir
Those who listen to themselves with pleasure

qui murmurent ou qui gueulent
Who whisper or scream

qui chantent ou qui soupirent
Who sing or sigh

faites le silence pour que ma sirène me ramène à son rocher
Make silence so my mermaid can bring me back to her rock

l'écueil de mes nuits où j'aime tant me jeter
The reef of my nights where I love to throw myself