Lucienne Delyle (Paris, France, April 16, 1917 — Monte Carlo, Monaco, 1962)… Read Full Bio ↴Lucienne Delyle (Paris, France, April 16, 1917 — Monte Carlo, Monaco, 1962) was a French singer.
After the very famous song Mon amant de Saint-Jean (my lover from Saint-Jean), in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer of 1950s.
Born in Paris, she was a fully educated pharmacist. First she sung as an amateur singer, until 1939, when she was heard and immediately engaged by Jacques Canetti, the artistic director of Radio Cité. In 1940 she married the jazzman Aimé Barelli (1917-1995), who guided her career ever since. With him she had a daughter, Minouche Barelli (1947-2004). After the immense success of the song "Mon amant de Saint-Jean" (My Lover From Saint-Jean), in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer in France. She was most popular during the 1950s. In 1953, Bruno Coquatrix invited her and young Gilbert Bécaud to be the stars for the gala opening concert at the „Olympia". Delyle's career declined rapidly in the end of the 1950s, due to the progress of the leukemia she suffered from. In 1960 she gave the last series of concerts on the stage of „Bobino". She died in Monte Carlo, in 1962.

Domingo
Lucienne Delyle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tout là-bas la forêt
Semble frémir et vibrer
Le bruit sourd du tam-tam
Brûle et martèle mon âme
Dans les îles, la nuit,
Sa mélopée me poursuit
Et j'irai tout là-bas
Pour y retrouver l'oubli

Domingo
Ta chanson n'est plus qu'un rêve
Domingo
Que le vent du sud achève
Domingo
Ta voix étrange et si calme
Domingo
Ne chante plus sous les palmes
Parmi les palmiers
S'élève un son de guitare très doux
Autour des grands feux
J'attends que tu reviennes aux rendez-vous

Domingo
Toute la nature pleure
Domingo
Sans toi les îles se meurent
Domingo

Tout là-bas j'ai connu
Le plus beau de ma tribu
Mais les Blancs aux yeux clairs
L'ont emmené vers la mer
J'ai cherché son chemin
Dans tous les pays lointains
Et ma voix
Chaque soir
Venait t'implorer en vain

Domingo
Ta chanson n'est plus qu'un rêve
Domingo
Que le vent du sud achève
Domingo
Ta voix étrange et si calme
Domingo
Ne chante plus sous les palmes
Parmi les palmiers
S'élève un son de guitare très doux
Autour des grands feux
J'attends que tu reviennes aux rendez-vous

Domingo
Ta chanson n'est plus qu'un rêve

Domingo
Que le vent du sud achève

Overall Meaning

In the first two verses of Lucienne Delyle's song Domingo, the lyrics construct an image of the jungle that engulfs whoever is listening to the sound of the tam-tam. Throughout the verse, the poetic language is vivid and uses personification to give life to the natural elements. It seems as though the wind and the jungle itself are alive, and they reach out to touch the singer's soul. The singer is lost in the rhythm of the tam-tam and seems to seek the solace of forgetfulness in the depths of the woods. The next verse switches to a more personal and emotional story of the singer's love for Domingo. The singer recalls the sweet sound of Domingo's guitar playing and singing, which was a staple in the nights of the islands. The singer seems to be lost without this love and soulmate which has disappeared, and they cry out for him to come back.

The chorus repeats the same lyrics, and its message is crystal clear; Domingo's song is gone, and the singer longs for it. They plead and pine for Domingo's return amongst the palm trees and the night. The lyrics paint a beautiful, emotional picture of nostalgia and heartache. The song's message is clear: In the darkest of nights, the singer's soul longs for the sweet song of Domingo.

Line by Line Meaning

Tout là-bas la forêt
The forest over there

Semble frémir et vibrer
seems to tremble and vibrate

Le bruit sourd du tam-tam
The muffled sound of the tam-tam drum

Brûle et martèle mon âme
Burns and hammers my soul

Dans les îles, la nuit,
In the islands, at night,

Sa mélopée me poursuit
its melody follows me

Et j'irai tout là-bas
And I will go over there

Pour y retrouver l'oubli
to find forgetfulness there

Domingo
Domingo

Ta chanson n'est plus qu'un rêve
Your song is now just a dream

Que le vent du sud achève
That the southern wind finishes