Born in a Parisian suburb in a wealthy family, he had a happy childhood. His father owned a small business. In high school, influenced by the great chansonniers of his time Luis Mariano, Charles Aznavour and Gilbert Bécaud, he formed with classmates a band.
Studying at the Petit Conservatoire de Mireille, where Yves Duteil and Françoise Hardy had been discovered, he made his first single, Anatole in 1963. He meets Roland Vincent who becomes his regular composer. Michels first hit Chez Laurette the following year is from the musical he plays in 'Copains-Clopant' . In 1966 appears his album Inventaire 66, while he is opening act for Leny Escudero. As Jacques Brel, in 1967, provides a series of farewell performances in the Parisian music theater Olympia, Delpech is the support act. Johnny Stark, the impresario of Mireille Mathieu, decides to accompany him. Michel is touring as a supporting act along with Mireille, to the US and the USSR.
In 1968 he won the French Grand Prix du Disque with "Il ya des jours où on ferait mieux de rester au lit".
In 1969 he composed the song hippie Wight is Wight in French about the British Isle of Wight Festival that summer. It became a huge hit in France, Sandie Shaw covered it the following year. In 1970 he regrets the break-up of The Beatles in the song Et Paul chantait Yesterday, brings the album Un coup de pied dans la montagne and he breaks up with Johnny Stark.
In 1971 Delpech scored a European hit with Pour un flirt; even in Britain it reached the charts. Further chansons by him were Que Marianne était jolie (1972) and Les divorcés (1974), Le Chasseur (1974) and Le Loir-et-Cher (1977).
The following years Delpech devoted primarily to composing and writing lyrics. He had a comeback in 1983 with the single Animaux, animaux and his successful album Loin d'ici in 1985, followed in 1989 by J'étais un ange. In 1992 with Roland Vincent he made the album Les Voix du Brésil. Delpech then took a five year sabbatical.
From 1997 Delpech was particularly productive. J'étais un ange is the title of an album in 2000 that heralds a tour with musician friends such as Alain Chamfort, Charlélie Couture, Claude Nougaro, Marc Lavoine and Pierre Richard providing inspiration for the album Comme vous (2004) and Live -album Ce lundi-là au Bataclan (2004).
In 2006 he even released an album consisting of five CDs Delpech inventaires followed by Michel Delpech & ... Delpech with repertoire old and new and of musical contemporaries like Bénabar, Francis Cabrel, Alain Souchon, Cali, Laurent Voulzy, Julien Clerc and Clarika. In 2008 appeared a live DVD, Live au Grand Rex, which is widely acclaimed as an excellent live recording.
Delpech fought three years against throat cancer. On January 2, 2016 Delpech died in Paris
Des Compagnons
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ô compagnons !
Et si le temps est à l'Histoire
Et qu'il se détraque en un soir
Qu'on nous donne la douce saison
Et si l'on nous donne des armes
Ô compagnons !
Nous nous servirons de nos lames
Pour couper en deux nos manteaux
Pour les donner en partage
Il faudra s'engager dans les ornières
Il faudra déblayer de la lumière
Nous marcherons comme des frères
Des compagnons
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
On ne demande pas de miracle
Aux compagnons
On ne demande pas de miracle
Juste un peu de soleil en vrac
Dans les yeux pleins d'insurrection
Et si l'on nous sert des promesses
Ô compagnons !
Nous nous servirons de nos larmes
Pour porter bien haut nos faiblesses
Pour mettre nos cœurs en morceaux
Pour les donner en partage
Il faudra monter le cœur en prière
Sortir des rigueurs de l'hiver
Nous agirons comme des frères
Des compagnons
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
The song "Des Compagnons" by Michel Delpech is a call for unity and hope during difficult times. The verses address the need for something to hold onto, whether it be the comfort of a season or the solidarity of brothers. The first verse asks for hope to be restored to the "companions" who sing the song, despite the uncertain and upsetting state of the world. The second verse speaks of the possibility of being called to arms and using their literal or metaphorical swords to divide and share what they have. The last verse emphasizes the importance of togetherness and the misery of loneliness.
The repetition of the phrase "ensemble nous ferons la lumière" (together we will shed light) reinforces the idea that unity is necessary to overcome adversity. The use of "companions" (an archaic and almost medieval term referring to members of a trade guild) adds a sense of tradition and history to the calls for solidarity. The song's overall message is that even in the darkest of times, a shared purpose and sense of community can be the guiding light towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Qu'on nous redonne un peu d'espoir
Ô compagnons !
We ask for a glimmer of hope, comrades!
Et si le temps est à l'Histoire
Et qu'il se détraque en un soir
Qu'on nous donne la douce saison
If the era moves towards history, and if it crumbles suddenly, we hope for a time of peace and tranquility.
Et si l'on nous donne des armes
Ô compagnons !
Et si l'on nous somme d'en faire usage
Nous nous servirons de nos lames
Pour couper en deux nos manteaux
Pour les donner en partage
If we are entrusted with weapons and ordered to use them, we will use them to sever our coats in halves and share them equally among ourselves.
Il faudra s'engager dans les ornières
Il faudra déblayer de la lumière
Nous marcherons comme des frères
Des compagnons
We must stay true to our path and clear the way for enlightenment. We will walk as brothers, comrades.
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
True misery lies in solitude. We will bring light together. Being alone is the true misery. We will bring light together.
On ne demande pas de miracle
Aux compagnons
On ne demande pas de miracle
Juste un peu de soleil en vrac
Dans les yeux pleins d'insurrection
Comrades, we don't ask for a miracle, just a bit of haphazard sunshine in the eyes of those full of rebellion.
Et si l'on nous sert des promesses
Ô compagnons !
Nous nous servirons de nos larmes
Pour porter bien haut nos faiblesses
Pour mettre nos cœurs en morceaux
Pour les donner en partage
If we are promised things, we will shed tears to show our vulnerability and wear our hearts on our sleeves, sharing them equally.
Il faudra monter le cœur en prière
Sortir des rigueurs de l'hiver
Nous agirons comme des frères
Des compagnons
We must lift our hearts in prayer and emerge from the bitter winter. We will act like brothers, comrades.
La vraie misère c'est d'être seul
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
True misery lies in solitude. We will bring light together. Being alone is the true misery.
Ensemble nous ferons la lumière
C'est d'être seul la vraie misère
Together we will bring light. Being alone is the true misery.
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.