Maxime Le Forestier (born February 10, 1949 as Bruno Le Forestier) is a Fre… Read Full Bio ↴Maxime Le Forestier (born February 10, 1949 as Bruno Le Forestier) is a French folk singer-songwriter, as well as an accomplished guitarist. He was born in Paris to an English father and a French mother who had lived in England. He had two older sisters, Anne and Catherine. His musical training started on the violin. He attended the Lycée Condorcet, where he studied literature.

In 1965, Le Forestier formed a duo (Cat et Maxime) with his sister Catherine. Playing at cabaret venues on Paris' Left Bank, the pair met and formed a friendship with Georges Moustaki. They were amongst the first artists to cover a number of songs by Moustaki - including Ma Liberté and Ma Solitude. In 1968, Catherine joined Moustaki as a backing singer. Le Forestier began to focus on songwriting and composed Ballade pour un traître which was recorded and released by the French/Italian singer and actor, Serge Reggiani.

Le Forestier continued as part-time singer/songwriter during his military service (beginning 1969) with a parachute regiment (the inspiration for the song Parachutiste). He recorded two songs: "Cœur de Pierre, Face de Lune", and La Petite Fugue.

His military service ending September 1970, Le Forestier refocused on his musical career. He developed a folksy style which was enormously popular in the 1970s and '80s. His first album Mon Frère, released in 1973, contains several pieces that have entered French folklore, including the title song Mon frère, San Francisco, Comme un arbre and Education sentimentale. He toured extensively, both in France and abroad. In 1976, he toured in 14 cities in the USSR. Recently he has gained particular acclaim for his reworkings of the songs of Georges Brassens.

Marie Pierre Et Charlemagne
Maxime Le Forestier Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Marie s'éveille
S'ensommeille
Pourtant
Marie se lève
Bonne élève
Enfant

Prend son cartable

Sur la table
Et sort
Ses yeux picotent
Papillotent
Encore

Marie, c'est bien Charlemagne
Qui t'a fait lever si tôt
Marie, maudis Charlemagne
Souffle une voix dans son dos

Et Marie cueille
Quelques feuilles
Jaunies
Rencontre Pierrre
Sur le lierre
Assis

Marie paresse
Puis carresse
Sa joue
S'assied par terre
Près de Pierre
Et joue

Marie, bénis Charlemagne
Qui t'a fait lever si tôt
Marie, oublie Charlemagne
Souffle une voix dans son dos

Un jour d'école
Sans paroles
C'est long
La cloche sonne
Mais l'automne
Sent bon

Marie se terre
Près de Pierre
Dehors
Marie s'éloigne

Charlemagne
Est mort

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Maxime Le Forestier's song "Marie Pierre Et Charlemagne" describe the mundane yet meaningful experience of a young girl named Marie as she wakes up, goes to school, and interacts with her friend Pierre. The lyrics are simple and subdued, and they evoke a sense of nostalgia and introspection.

The first verse establishes Marie's morning routine, as she wakes up and prepares to go to school. The second verse introduces the character of Charlemagne, who is responsible for waking Marie up early. The third verse describes Marie's encounter with Pierre, who is sitting on the ivy and who she will spend time with throughout the day.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of ambiguity and mystery surrounding Charlemagne, who is alternately praised and cursed by an unseen voice. This suggests that Charlemagne may be a metaphor for something larger, such as the passage of time, the inevitability of change, or the pressures of the adult world. Meanwhile, Marie and Pierre represent a simpler and more innocent time, before the weight of the world began to bear down on them.

Overall, Maxime Le Forestier's "Marie Pierre Et Charlemagne" is a poignant and evocative meditation on youth, memory, and the passage of time. Its understated lyrics and gentle melody invite the listener to contemplate their own experiences of growing up and leaving childhood behind.

Line by Line Meaning

Marie s'éveille
Marie wakes up

S'ensommeille
Falls back to sleep

Pourtant
However

Marie se lève
Marie gets up

Bonne élève
Good student

Enfant
A child

Prend son cartable
Takes her backpack

Sur la table
From the table

Et sort
And goes out

Ses yeux picotent
Her eyes sting

Papillotent
Flutter