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
Docker
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tu t'appelles Joe, docker
Tu charges les cargos sur les quais
Mais devant ta blonde
T'es comme tout le monde
(Bis)
Tu danses comme un petit chien
Joe, Joe, Joe
Chaque fois qu'elle est loin
Tu t'en vas te foutre а l'eau
Joe, Joe, Joe
Docker, t'as une ancre bleue
Sur la poitrine, docker
(Bis)
T'as fait 5 ans dans la marine
Mais on ne vaut pas cher
Oh ni toi, ni moi, docker
(Bis)
Chaque fois qu'elle revient
Tu danses comme un petit chien
Joe, Joe, Joe
Chaque fois qu'elle est loin
Tu vas te foutre sous un train
Joe, Joe, Joe
Mais on s'appelle tous Joe
On est tous des dockers
Joe, Joe, Joe
Et on se trimballe tous
Une caisse sur le dos
Joe, Joe, Joe
Oui on est dockers
Et tout le monde s'appelle Joe
Joe, Joe, Joe
Et on se trimballe tous
Une caisse sur le dos
Joe, Joe, Joe
Tout le monde est docker
Et tout le monde s'appelle Joe
Joe, Joe, Joe
Et on se trimballe tous
Une caisse sur le dos
Joe, Joe, Joe...
The song "Docker" by Michel Delpech is an ode to the life of a hard-working dock worker, named Joe. The lyrics are essentially about the monotonous and tough life of a docker, who spends his days charging cargo on the wharfs. Despite the grueling labor he endures, there is a beautiful simplicity in his routine, and a certain pride in his work. The chorus repeats often, emphasizing the fact that all dockers are also named Joe, making the job and the workers interchangeable.
The song highlights the tender side of the docker, highlighting his love for his girlfriend or wife. When she is present, he dances around like a puppy in love, joyfully affectionate. When she leaves, he sinks into melancholy and drinks to fill the void. His love for her is portrayed as an anchor, with the blue anchor tattoo he has on his chest serving as a physical symbol of their connection.
In summary, the song is a poignant tribute to the hardworking, blue-collar laborer who, despite its "tough guy" reputation, is softened by his love, and like all men, need comfort and affection.
Line by Line Meaning
Docker, t'es un homme un vrai
You are a real man, a dock worker
Tu t'appelles Joe, docker
Your name is Joe, being a dock worker
Tu charges les cargos sur les quais
You load cargo onto ships at the docks
Mais devant ta blonde, t'es comme tout le monde
But in front of your girlfriend, you are like everyone else
Chaque fois qu'elle revient, tu danses comme un petit chien Joe, Joe, Joe
Every time she comes back, you dance like a little dog
Chaque fois qu'elle est loin, tu t'en vas te foutre а l'eau Joe, Joe, Joe
Every time she is far away, you go throw yourself into the water
Docker, t'as une ancre bleue sur la poitrine, docker
You have a blue anchor on your chest, being a dock worker
T'as fait 5 ans dans la marine, mais on ne vaut pas cher, oh ni toi, ni moi docker
You spent five years in the navy, but neither you nor I are worth much, being a dock worker
Mais on s'appelle tous Joe, on est tous des dockers Joe, Joe, Joe
But we are all called Joe, we are all dock workers
Et on se trimballe tous une caisse sur le dos Joe, Joe, Joe
And we all carry a crate on our backs
Oui on est dockers et tout le monde s'appelle Joe Joe, Joe, Joe
Yes, we are dock workers and everyone is called Joe
Tout le monde est docker et tout le monde s'appelle Joe Joe, Joe, Joe
Everyone is a dock worker and everyone is called Joe
Et on se trimballe tous une caisse sur le dos Joe, Joe, Joe…
And we all carry a crate on our backs
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Francis Schlewitz
Ça fait juste 38 ans que j'esperais réentendre cette chanson !
LastVmax
Curieux que ce morceau ne soit pas plus connu... On l'entendait parfois à la radio à l'époque
Meritaton
Merci Sandra pour la mise en ligne de cette chanson rare.... On la retrouve sur le CD «Fan de toi».
Sandra Joan
+Moni64 moni Merci pour l'info A+
Matthew O' Connor
Une de mes chansons préférées de Michel Delpech !
karim n
Moi aussi ,j'avais 16ans quand je l'écouter
Benoit MarcO
très étonné que ce titre ne figure sur aucun best off, pourtant en 1980, il passait souvent à la Radio ( RTL, Europe, RMC, Sud-Radio).
On constate le changement musical plus rock de Michel Delpech.
patr942
Oui il voulait surement suivre le retour au hard rock initié par ACDC , Trust , Van Halen ...
Péqueux d'Arleux
Aaaah de la musique, enfin : pas de Kenji Girac gimms ou/et louanne et leur "aural garbages"
ka mel
RIP