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
Home Sweet Home
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qui se passait aux Йtats-Unis
Le hйros se retrouvait
A l'autre bout du pays
Dans un wagon а bestiaux
Entre une vache et son petit veau
Dans la chaleur de la nuit
Il voulait rentrer chez lui
Home sweet home
Chantait la voix de Frankie Laine
Home sweet home
Chantait la voix
Sa femme, une certaine Marion
Avait quittй la maison
Pour aller faire l'entraоneuse
A la Nouvelle-Orlйans
C'йtait un film de sйrie B
Je sais pas pourquoi, зa m'a touchй
C'est peut-кtre parce que moi aussi
En ce moment, je vois du pays.
In Michel Delpech's song "Home Sweet Home," the lyrics describe the singer's experience of watching a movie in which the main character is stuck on the other side of the country, surrounded by cattle and longing for home. The chorus of the song features the voice of Frankie Laine singing the phrase "home sweet home," which serves as a comforting reminder of the singer's eventual return home. The lyrics suggest that the singer's own desire for home may have been sparked by the movie, as he reveals that he is currently traveling and feels a sense of homesickness.
The song reflects on themes of longing and displacement, as well as the power of music to evoke feelings of nostalgia and comfort. The use of a famous singer's voice in the chorus adds to the sense of familiarity and warmth, suggesting that music can serve as a source of connection and healing for those who are far from home.
Overall, "Home Sweet Home" is a beautifully written and poignant song that speaks to universal experiences of homesickness and the longing for connection and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Hier soir, j'ai vu un film
Last night, I watched a movie
Qui se passait aux Йtats-Unis
That was set in the United States
Le hйros se retrouvait
The hero found himself
A l'autre bout du pays
At the other end of the country
Dans un wagon а bestiaux
In a livestock car
Entre une vache et son petit veau
Between a cow and her calf
Dans la chaleur de la nuit
In the heat of the night
Il voulait rentrer chez lui
He wanted to go back home
Home sweet home
Home sweet home
Chantait la voix de Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine's voice sang
Home sweet home
Home sweet home
Chantait la voix
The voice sang
Sa femme, une certaine Marion
His wife, a certain Marion
Avait quittй la maison
Had left the house
Pour aller faire l'entraоneuse
To become a prostitute
A la Nouvelle-Orlйans
In New Orleans
C'йtait un film de sйrie B
It was a B-movie
Je sais pas pourquoi, зa m'a touchй
I don't know why, but it touched me
C'est peut-кtre parce que moi aussi
Maybe it's because I too
En ce moment, je vois du pays.
Am traveling around at the moment.
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.