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.

Sans toi
Julien Clerc Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ce matin presque habituel
Devant les fleurs immortelles
J’ai ressenti un instant
Passer la fin de ma vie

Dis-moi ce qui reste de toi
De toi, infidèle et cruelle
Oh! ma tête qui se vide

Sans toi

Ce matin, un peu malin
Devant ma vie, sans mentir
J’ai cru sentir comme un signe
Passer la mélancolie

{x2:}
Dis-moi ce qui reste de toi
De toi, éternelle et enfuie
Oh! ma tête qui se vide
Sans toi

Ce matin, c’est le chagrin
Devant les fleurs desséchées
J’ai essuyé cette larme
De la première tempête

Voilà ce qui reste de toi
De toi, insouciante et mortelle

Oh! ma tête qui se vide
Sans toi {x2}

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sans toi" by Julien Clerc talks about the emotions and feelings of the singer after the end of a relationship with an unfaithful and cruel partner. The first stanza describes a typical day where the singer is standing in front of the "immortal flowers," which could symbolize the memories of the past relationship. Suddenly, the singer feels like the end of his life is passing before him, maybe because of the pain caused by the separation.

In the second stanza, the singer appears to be trying to move on with his life, but he still cannot help but feel the void and emptiness without his significant other. He wonders what remains of her, even though she was untrue and hard-hearted towards him. The repetition of "Oh! ma tête qui se vide" (Oh! My head that empties) shows that he is struggling to cope with the absence of his partner.

The final stanza demonstrates that even though the singer is trying to start anew, he is still grieving the loss of his lover. He is standing in front of the "dried flowers" symbolizing the end of their relationship and wipes away a tear from "the first storm." He accepts that what remains of his partner is her carefree and mortal nature, which contrasts with his melancholic state. The song's overall feel is that of heartbreak, disappointment, and the difficulty of moving on after a relationship ends.

Line by Line Meaning

Ce matin presque habituel
This morning is almost like any other morning

Devant les fleurs immortelles
In front of the everlasting flowers

J’ai ressenti un instant
I felt for a moment

Passer la fin de ma vie
The end of my life passing by

Dis-moi ce qui reste de toi
Tell me what's left of you

De toi, infidèle et cruelle
Of you, unfaithful and cruel

Oh! ma tête qui se vide
Oh! My head that empties out

Sans toi
Without you

Ce matin, un peu malin
This morning, a bit clever

Devant ma vie, sans mentir
Facing my life, without lying

J’ai cru sentir comme un signe
I thought I felt a sign