Born on the 24th August 1916 in Monaco, Ferré mixed lyricism with slang; love with anarchy. He took a central place in the world of French song. He was involved in anarchism, and worked with Radio Libertaire, an anarchist free-radio broadcasting in Paris and around France. He died on the 14th July 1993.
Blues
Léo Ferré Lyrics
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On écrit des vers, de la prose
On doit trafiquer quelque chos'
En attendant le jour qui vient
La brume quand point le matin
Retir' aux vitres son haleine
Il en fut ainsi quand verlaine
Ici doucement s'est éteint
On n'a pas tous les mêmes cartes
Avant l'autr' il faut que je part'
Eux sortis je restais rêvant
Tout le monde n'est pas Cézanne
Nous nous contenterons de peu
L'on pleur' et l'on rit comm' on peut
Dans cet univers de tisane
"Jeune homme qu'est-ce que tu crains
Tu vielliras vaille que vaille"
Disant l'ombre sur la muraill'
Peinte par un breughel forain
On veill', on pens' à tout à rien
On écrit des vers, de la prose
On doit trafiquer quelque chose
En attendant le jour qui vient
On veill', on pens' à tout à rien
On écrit des vers, de la prose
On doit trafiquer quelque chose
En attendant le jour qui vient....
The opening song "Blues in 2-3" by Leo Ferre depicts a melancholic mood with a philosophical approach. The lyrics impressively communicate the idea of the fleetingness of time and the uncertainty of life. The lyrics primarily describe the activity of a group of poets spending their nights awake, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. Despite being awake, they are not working, but they write poetry for themselves as well as for others. The line "On doit trafiquer quelque chos'" indicates they must create something to pass the time until the day comes. While the poets write, they wait for the day to arrive, with the mist on the windows clearing out.
Leo Ferre emulates the idea of the uncertainty and fleetingness of life by stating that many people have come and gone, and it's inevitable (Plusieurs sont morts, plusieurs vivants). The verse, "Tout le monde n'est pas Cézanne, Nous nous contenterons de peu" is a reference to Paul Cezanne, indicating that not everyone can become Cezanne, but one can still appreciate what they have and enjoy the little things they do. The song concludes with an allusion to fear of aging, with the shadow saying "Jeune homme qu'est-ce que tu crains, tu vielliras vaille que vaille" (Young man, what do you fear, you will age no matter what).
Overall, "Blues in 2-3" is an excellent representation of Leo Ferre's poetic and philosophical style. The song speaks of the universal experience of the uncertainty of the future and the transience of life.
Line by Line Meaning
On veille, on pense à tout à rien
We stay awake, lost in thought with no direction
On écrit des vers, de la prose
We write lines of poetry and prose, hoping to find meaning
On doit trafiquer quelque chos'
We must continue to scheme and plot
En attendant le jour qui vient
While we wait for the day to arrive
La brume quand point le matin
The morning haze appears when daylight arrives
Retir' aux vitres son haleine
It's when the mist disappears from the window panes
Il en fut ainsi quand verlaine
As was the case with Verlaine
Ici doucement s'est éteint
Who quietly passed away here
Plusieurs sont morts, plusieurs vivants
Many have died, while many still live
On n'a pas tous les mêmes cartes
We aren't all dealt the same hand in life
Avant l'autr' il faut que je part'
Before the others, I must leave
Eux sortis je restais rêvant
While they left, I remained dreaming
Tout le monde n'est pas Cézanne
Not everyone can be a great artist like Cezanne
Nous nous contenterons de peu
We will make do with what little we have
L'on pleur' et l'on rit comm' on peut
Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, in our own ways
Dans cet univers de tisane
In this world of blandness and dullness
"Jeune homme qu'est-ce que tu crains
"Young man, what do you fear?
Tu vielliras vaille que vaille"
"You will grow old regardless"
Disant l'ombre sur la muraill'
The shadow says from the wall
Peinte par un breughel forain
Painted by a traveling Breughel
On veill', on pens' à tout à rien
We stay awake, lost in thought with no direction
On écrit des vers, de la prose
We write lines of poetry and prose, hoping to find meaning
On doit trafiquer quelque chose
We must continue to scheme and plot
En attendant le jour qui vient
While we wait for the day to arrive
On veill', on pens' à tout à rien
We stay awake, lost in thought with no direction
On écrit des vers, de la prose
We write lines of poetry and prose, hoping to find meaning
On doit trafiquer quelque chose
We must continue to scheme and plot
En attendant le jour qui vient...
While we wait for the day to arrive...
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN
Written by: Léo FERRE, Louis ARAGON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Annie Batllo
Unique Monsieur Ferré , un bonheur.....
R.J.-G
Aragon Ferré - Ferré Aragon ! que ce disque 33 tours reste éblouissant Unique - inoubliable à jamais
Herve Gonord
Quelle formidable chanson... Du grand Léo !!!. "Mon pote, tu nous manques !!!".
charlotte vix
Magnifique chanson inspirée du fabuleux poème d'Aragon "Le spectacle à la lanterne magique" extrait du "IVX arrondissement"
Francois Charfe
Pour info le texte est de Louis ARAGON
Rene Lannuzel
Le boss
ROY SHAW
TAKES ME TO MY DREAM WORLD
Ferhat
Ferré le l'audit blued