Born in Plzeň, Western Bohemia, Gott was initially trained as a mechanic; at the same time, he performed as an amateur singer in various Prague pubs of the late 1950s. In the 1960s he started to study singing at the Prague Conservatoire, his first short record Měsíční řeka (a Czech version of Henry Mancini's "Moon River") being issued in 1962. Since 1963 Gott rapidly occupied a leading position on the Czechoslovak pop scene, while his first international successes followed his five month stay in Las Vegas.
In 1969, Gott won the music festival in Rio de Janeiro with composer Karel Svoboda's hit Lady Carneval. Between 1965, when his first LP Zpívá Karel Gott ("Karel Gott Sings") was published, and the mid 1990s, Fifty LP's of Gott were published by Czech publishing house Supraphon, making him the best selling performer in the Czech music business. At the same time, more than 80 records were published abroad, most of them on the Polydor label. In the late 1960s, Gott started his career in German-speaking countries as well. As part of this popularity, he represented Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968, singing Tausend Fenster.
On January 7 2008 he married his last wife Ivana (née Macháčková) with whome he had two daughters.
He died on October 1st, 2019 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leucemia.
C'est La Vie
Karel Gott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
und du wartest
wann schaut sie herüber.
Doch dein Freund
der wagt es gleich und spricht sie einfach
hättest du den Mut
wärst du der Sieger.
C'est la vie
C'est la vie
denn mein Freund es heiát: jetzt oder nie.
Wenn du wartest
geht dein Glück vorüber
nur wer wagt
der gewinnt
C'est la vie.
C'est la vie
mon ami
C'est la vie
bist du dran
frag nicht wann oder wie.
Wenn du wartest geht dein Glück vorüber
nur wer wagt
der gewinnt
C'est la vie.
Du suchst in der Zeitung
dort im Stellenangebot
und du siehst die Chance deines Lebens.
Chef mit rotem Telefon und eigenem Chauffeur
doch die Stelle war schon lang vergeben.
C'est la vie mon ami
C'est la vie . . .
Denn das Leben ist ein groáes Glücksrad
dreh' dran und dann gewinnst auch du.
C'est la vie mon ami
C'est la vie . . .
La la la la la la la la la
wenn du wartest
geht dein Glück vorüber
nur wer wagt . . .
The lyrics of Karel Gott's song "C'est La Vie" convey the idea of taking chances in life and not waiting for opportunities to pass by. The song starts off describing a scene at a bar where the singer is too shy to approach a woman he likes, and is waiting for her to notice him. However, when his friend steps up and takes the initiative, he is successful in striking a conversation with her. The lyrics highlight the importance of taking a leap of faith in life and seizing the moment when it presents itself. The phrase "C'est La Vie" is a French expression meaning "that's life," which implies acceptance of life's ups and downs.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of taking chances, this time in the context of job opportunities. The singer sees a promising job listing in the newspaper, but unfortunately, the position has already been filled. The lyrics suggest that in life, one must keep searching and striving for opportunities, as they come and go like the spinning of a wheel of fortune.
Overall, the lyrics of "C'est La Vie" encourage listeners to take risks and not to hesitate in pursuing opportunities, as they may not come again. The chorus repeats the phrase "C'est La Vie" to emphasize the idea that life is unpredictable, and one must make the most of the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Du sitzt in der Kneipe und siehst schüchtern zu ihr hin
You're sitting in the pub and shyly watching her, hoping she'll look your way.
und du wartest wann schaut sie herüber.
You're waiting for her to look your way.
Doch dein Freund der wagt es gleich und spricht sie einfach
But then your friend steps in and speaks to her without hesitation.
hättest du den Mut wärst du der Sieger.
If only you had the courage, you could have won her over.
C'est la vie mon ami C'est la vie
That's life, my friend, that's life.
denn mein Freund es heiát: jetzt oder nie.
Because my friend, it's now or never.
Wenn du wartest geht dein Glück vorüber
If you wait, your chance at happiness may pass you by.
nur wer wagt der gewinnt C'est la vie.
Only those who take risks will reap the rewards. That's life.
bist du dran frag nicht wann oder wie.
It's your turn now, don't ask when or how.
Du suchst in der Zeitung dort im Stellenangebot
You're going through want ads in the newspaper.
und du siehst die Chance deines Lebens.
And you see the opportunity of a lifetime.
Chef mit rotem Telefon und eigenem Chauffeur
A boss with a red phone and his own driver.
doch die Stelle war schon lang vergeben.
But the job had already been taken.
Denn das Leben ist ein groáes Glücksrad
Because life is a big wheel of fortune.
dreh' dran und dann gewinnst auch du.
Spin the wheel and you too can win.
La la la la la la la la la wenn du wartest
La la la la la la la la la if you wait.
geht dein Glück vorüber nur wer wagt . . .
Your chance at happiness may pass you by if you don't take risks. That's life.
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@schnitzelman7605
”Až jednou za noci nebo i za dne,
srdce mé zpomalí klus,
až náhle opona spadne,
až hudba dohraje blues.
Řeknu c'est la vie, c'est la vie,
tímto končí bál, a to mě nebaví, nebaví,
hrajte ještě dál, naposledy.”
Sbohem.
@martinaksinanova3828
Až jednou za noci nebo i za dne,
srdce mé zpomalí klus,
až náhle opona spadne,
až hudba dohraje blues.
Řeknu c'est la vie, c'est la vie,
tímto končí bál, a to mě nebaví, nebaví,
hrajte ještě dál, naposledy.
RIP
@Ikarias1
Tak sbohem, Mistře! Ať se Vám nahoře zpívá stejně, jak zamlada.
@adambojj2034
Jan P. Prosim napis na fb adam pavelka
@portokalosportokalos2569
Nikdy jsem si opravdu neuvědomila, jak dobrý zpěvák Karel Gott byl, či snad ještě je. Ale v téhle písničce je tolik citu, tolik nálad a poloh, že je to neuvěřitelné. Nádherná verze.
@danieltonek6661
moje řeč..
@natasapivovarova6126
Este zije ChvalaBohu!!!
@houdyny_
@@natasapivovarova6126 😔😔😔bohužel dneska skončil bál...
@natasapivovarova6126
@@houdyny_ presne tak Bohuzial, vela sme stratili, vela...
@unicorncz8479
Ano-o hodně jsme přišli😭
@Lucci139
Zbohom, PÁN Karel Gott! Neraz si pofrflem, že život v tejto dobe nestojí za nič, no ďakujem za to, že som mohla žiť práve v tejto spoločnosti ľudí, v ktorej ste sa preslávil práve Vy a len tým najlepším spôsobom. Určite to z nebies vidíte, koľko ľudí za Vami smúti. Nech je Váš večný odpočinok už len preto pokojný 🙏. Teraz vidíte, čo ste za sebou zanechal. Milióny sŕdc 💔, ktoré ste potešoval deň čo deň. Budete tu veľmi chýbať. Snáď sa raz všetci, čo teraz za Vami smútime, stretneme "na druhom brehu" a zaspievame si s Vami ❤️ .
@schnitzelman7605
”Až jednou za noci nebo i za dne,
srdce mé zpomalí klus,
až náhle opona spadne,
až hudba dohraje blues.
Řeknu c'est la vie, c'est la vie,
tímto končí bál, a to mě nebaví, nebaví,
hrajte ještě dál, naposledy.”
Sbohem.