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.

New Virginia
Julien Clerc Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je te connais.
Tu as ton toit,
Un tas d'amour
De rien,
Un tas de n'importe quoi,
Un tas de mystères,
De cheveux, de chevaux
Pas de bois,

De paysages labourés,
De pierres bien entassées,
Un tas de souvenirs,
Si petit, si frais.
Je te connais.

Tu as ton toit
Et je veux vivre là.

Overall Meaning

In Julien Clerc's song "New Virginia," the singer is expressing their knowledge and appreciation for the person they are addressing. The lyrics open with the singer saying "Je te connais" which translates to "I know you." This creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity between the two, indicating that the singer has a close relationship with the person they are addressing. The singer goes on to describe the person's life, praising them for having their own home and a lot of love. The third line, "un tas d'amour de rien" translates to "a lot of love for nothing," which could suggest that the person is generous with their affection and offers it freely without expecting anything in return. The next two lines, "un tas de n'importe quoi, un tas de mystères" translate to "a lot of anything, a lot of mysteries," suggesting that the person is complex and full of contradictions. The mention of "cheveux, de chevaux" (hair, horses) and "pas de bois" (no wood) adds to the sense of randomness and eccentricity.

The singer then goes on to describe the person's environment, listing different natural and man-made features such as "paysages labourés" (plowed fields) and "pierres bien entassées" (well-stacked stones). These details create a sense of rusticity and groundedness, suggesting that the person is connected to the earth and their surroundings. The final two lines of the song, "un tas de souvenirs, si petit, si frais / Je te connais, tu as ton toit, et je veux vivre là" translate to "a lot of memories, so small, so fresh / I know you have your own roof, and I want to live there." These lines reinforce the singer's affection for the person and desire to be with them.

Overall, "New Virginia" is a song about intimacy, appreciation, and connection to one's surroundings. The singer's knowledge of the person they are addressing and the details they include about their environment create a vivid picture of a person who is complex, grounded, and generous with their love.

Line by Line Meaning

Je te connais.
I know you very well.

Tu as ton toit,
You have your own home,

Un tas d'amour
A heap of love,

De rien,
From nothingness,

Un tas de n'importe quoi,
A pile of random things,

Un tas de mystères,
A bunch of mysteries,

De cheveux, de chevaux
Of hair and horses,

Pas de bois,
No wood,

De paysages labourés,
Of cultivated landscapes,

De pierres bien entassées,
Of stones nicely piled up,

Un tas de souvenirs,
A heap of memories,