Born to a pianist mother and the director of a music academy, she took part in several singing competitions as a teenager. She was first noticed on the international scene when she played in the musical comedy Starmania in Paris.
Starting with her first album, Danser, in 1986 on the tiny Franc'Amour label, she was noted for strong, heartfelt songs. This was the first of her ten solo albums.
She was best known in her later years for her role in a TV talent show for young singers, Nouvelle Star (New Star).
She returned to the stage in Brussels in early May 2018 to take part in a concert in tribute to the late Jacques Brel, one of Belgium's most famous singer-songwriters. She died days later.
Les Coeurs Sans Logis
Maurane Lyrics
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Et si tu es seulement là
Au ciel ou sur le bord de la route
Je n′prie pas pour moi
On dit qu'j'ne suis qu′une pas grand chose
Mais si je me souviens
Pour toi, c′était pas tout rose
Comme ces pauvres cloches que le vent charrie
Le poing dans les poches, les punis d'la vie
Y a quelque chose qui cloche pour ceux qui mendient
Et leurs mains s′accrochent à l'espoir enfui
Rien qu′des pauvres cloches, des enfants meurtris
Et la vie s'effiloche au fond des taudis
J′te fais pas de reproches mais regarde par ici
Ces tristes fantoches aux cœurs sans logis
Tu as donné un petit coup de pouce à ceux qui ont la belle vie
Mais voilà qu'ils nous repoussent ça leur fait peur
Les guenilles et la rage au cœur
De ces pauvres cloches qu'on fuit, qu′on maudit
Les riens dans les poches, les punis de la vie
Y a quelque chose qui cloche pour ceux qui mendient
Et leurs mains s′accrochent à l'espoir enfui
J′te fais pas de reproches mais regarde par ici
Et sonnent les cloches pour tous les bannis
The lyrics of Maurane's song "Les Coeurs Sans Logis" convey a sense of empathy and awareness towards the struggles of the less fortunate. In the first verse, the singer expresses uncertainty about whether her voice is being heard and questions if the listener is truly present, whether in heaven or on the side of the road. She states that she doesn't pray for herself, suggesting that her concerns lie with others.
The second verse addresses the judgment the singer faces as being insignificant, but she counters this by remembering that things weren't easy for the person she is addressing either. There is a reference to "la misère en chemin" (the misery along the way), indicating a shared experience of hardship.
The chorus describes these unfortunate individuals as "pauvres cloches" (poor bells) being blown around by the wind, with their fists in their pockets, being punished by life. There is a feeling that something is wrong for those who have to beg, as their hands cling to faded hope. The imagery created implies a sense of desperation and longing for a better life.
The third verse highlights the disconnect between those who have a comfortable life and those who are struggling. The singer acknowledges that some helped those in need initially but are now rejecting them out of fear. The "guenilles" (rags) and "rage au cœur" (rage in their hearts) of the poor are seen as something to be avoided, rather than something to be addressed and understood.
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing that there is something fundamentally wrong with the way society treats those who beg for help. Their hands still hold onto hope despite their difficult circumstances. The singer concludes by saying that she holds no judgment towards those who turn a blind eye but urges them to look closer and listen to the tolling bells, which symbolize the plight of the outcasts and marginalized people.
Overall, the lyrics of "Les Coeurs Sans Logis" convey a strong message of compassion and a call for society to recognize and address the struggles faced by those living on the fringes. Maurane's thoughtful and evocative lyrics shed light on the human condition and the importance of empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Je n′sais même pas si tu m'écoutes
I don't even know if you're listening to me
Et si tu es seulement là
And if you're even there
Au ciel ou sur le bord de la route
In heaven or on the side of the road
Je n′prie pas pour moi
I don't pray for myself
On dit qu'j'ne suis qu′une pas grand chose
They say I'm just not much
Mais si je me souviens
But if I remember
Pour toi, c′était pas tout rose
For you, it wasn't all rosy
Et la misère en chemin
And misery on the way
Comme ces pauvres cloches que le vent charrie
Like these poor bells that the wind carries
Le poing dans les poches, les punis d'la vie
Fists in pockets, punished by life
Y a quelque chose qui cloche pour ceux qui mendient
There's something wrong for those who beg
Et leurs mains s′accrochent à l'espoir enfui
And their hands cling to lost hope
Rien qu′des pauvres cloches, des enfants meurtris
Just poor bells, wounded children
Et la vie s'effiloche au fond des taudis
And life frays at the bottom of slums
J′te fais pas de reproches mais regarde par ici
I'm not blaming you, but look around here
Ces tristes fantoches aux cœurs sans logis
These sad puppets with homeless hearts
Tu as donné un petit coup de pouce à ceux qui ont la belle vie
You gave a little boost to those who have a good life
Mais voilà qu'ils nous repoussent ça leur fait peur
But now they push us away, it scares them
Les guenilles et la rage au cœur
Rags and rage in the heart
De ces pauvres cloches qu'on fuit, qu′on maudit
From these poor bells we flee, we curse
Les riens dans les poches, les punis de la vie
Nothing in their pockets, punished by life
Y a quelque chose qui cloche pour ceux qui mendient
There's something wrong for those who beg
Et leurs mains s′accrochent à l'espoir enfui
And their hands cling to lost hope
J′te fais pas de reproches mais regarde par ici
I'm not blaming you, but look around here
Et sonnent les cloches pour tous les bannis
And the bells ring for all the outcasts
Writer(s): Alan Menken, Stephen Schwartz
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.