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.
Travailler c'est trop dur
Julien Clerc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D'mander la charité, c'est quéqu'chose j'peux pas faire.
Chaque jour que moi j'vis, on m'demande de quoi j'vis.
J'dis que j'vis sur l'amour, et j'espère de viv' vieux!
Et je prends mon vieux ch'val, et j'attrape ma vieille selle
Et je selle mon vieux ch'val pour aller chercher ma belle.
Tu connais, c'est loin d'un grand bout d'là, de Saint-Antoine à Beaumont
Et je prends mon violon, et j'attrape mon archet,
Et je joue ma vieille valse pour faire le monde danser.
Vous connaissez, mes chers amis, la vie est bien trop courte
Pour se faire des soucis, alors, allons danser!
Travailler, c'est trop dur, et voler c'est pas beau.
D'mander la charité, c'est quéqu'chose j'peux pas faire.
Chaque jour que moi j'vis, on m'demande de quoi j'vis,
J'dis que j'vis sur l'amour, et j'espère de viv' vieux!
The lyrics of Julien Clerc's song "Travailler c'est trop dur" speak to the human desire to break free from the constraints of a monotonous, laborious life. The first verse highlights the struggle between the desire for an easy life and the societal pressure to work hard and earn a living, symbolizing theft as an unacceptable alternative. The second verse talks about the difficulty of asking for help, and the pressure that society puts on individuals to be self-sufficient, even if circumstances prevent them from doing so.
The chorus of the song deals with the constant questioning of one's livelihood, a pressure that is universal no matter what socio-economic status one occupies, yet ironically it is love that has kept him going in life, a concept that cannot be quantified in monetary terms or be put up as a resume booster. The third verse represents the artist's desire to escape his mundane life and find love, and expresses the desire to play his music for all to enjoy, contributing to a carefree lifestyle in which there is room for dancing, laughter and joy, concluding that working too hard is not worth it if one cannot enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Overall, "Travailler c'est trop dur" is a song about the human struggle to exist in a world that assumes success can be found through hard labor, and the freedom that comes with rejecting that notion and embracing the little joys of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Travailler, c'est trop dur, et voler, c'est pas beau.
Working is too hard, and stealing is not beautiful.
D'mander la charité, c'est quéqu'chose j'peux pas faire.
Asking for charity is something I cannot do.
Chaque jour que moi j'vis, on m'demande de quoi j'vis.
Every day of my life, I am asked how I live.
J'dis que j'vis sur l'amour, et j'espère de viv' vieux!
I say that I live on love, and I hope to live a long time!
Et je prends mon vieux ch'val, et j'attrape ma vieille selle
And I take my old horse, and I grab my old saddle
Et je selle mon vieux ch'val pour aller chercher ma belle.
And I saddle my old horse to go get my love.
Tu connais, c'est loin d'un grand bout d'là, de Saint-Antoine à Beaumont
You know, it's far from here, from Saint-Antoine to Beaumont.
Mais le long du grand Texas, j'l'ai cherchée bien longtemps.
But along the great Texas, I searched for her for a long time.
Et je prends mon violon, et j'attrape mon archet,
And I take my violin, and I grab my bow,
Et je joue ma vieille valse pour faire le monde danser.
And I play my old waltz to make the world dance.
Vous connaissez, mes chers amis, la vie est bien trop courte
You know, my dear friends, life is far too short.
Pour se faire des soucis, alors, allons danser!
To worry, so let's dance!
Travailler, c'est trop dur, et voler c'est pas beau.
Working is too hard, and stealing is not beautiful.
D'mander la charité, c'est quéqu'chose j'peux pas faire.
Asking for charity is something I cannot do.
Chaque jour que moi j'vis, on m'demande de quoi j'vis,
Every day of my life, I am asked how I live,
J'dis que j'vis sur l'amour, et j'espère de viv' vieux!
I say that I live on love, and I hope to live a long time!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RALPH ZACHARY RICHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joellenita4129
Merci Julien clerc, ça me rappelle un souvenir d'amour de mon enfance, dis ce que je vis c'est de l'amour et je prend mon violon et demandé la charité que je peux pas faire et jespere de vivre vieux .Merci .
@sadiacollin2622
Cette chanson me fait penser à l'évangile du jour.
@vincegtx
Trop DUR, sans E à la fin !
En plus c'est écrit sur la pochette, bordel !
@mattheochartier8396
Team chômage on est là
@rarespecie6933
😆😆😆😆
@PatonzeCarcassonne
Dommage pour la faute sur Travailler c'est trop dur !
@Oliieko
Merci madame Raffin ! Vous allez certainement jamais tomber sur ce commentaire mais en nous montrant cette chanson vous nous avez de bon délire et très bon souvenir pour notre année de 6e 😂... (6eC)
@LLB821
Bravo julien
@turkitorche9448
ah! ah ! tu reviens julien de si loin .bonjour à toi.
@pascalvitali7646
J'adore et depuis longtemps...🙏