Michel Delpech (Jean-Michel Delpech, Courbevoie, January 26, 1946 - Paris,… Read Full Bio ↴Michel Delpech (Jean-Michel Delpech, Courbevoie, January 26, 1946 - Paris, January 2, 2016) was a French chansonnier, novelist and actor.

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

Il N'y A Que Lui
Michel Delpech Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On peut scruter le ciel
Entendre l'appel
Retourner les pierres
Du jardin d'Eden
Trébucher, tomber
Et s'en prendre à nous-mêmes
Ou accuser
Dieu lui-même

Peut-on se croire tranquille
Au bord d'une piscine
En je tant un billet de mille
Aux pauvres, aux imbéciles
Si on se sent pas tranquille
Faut prendre les outils
Et changer de vie
Changer de vie

Quand on ne sera plus là
Et qu'on regardera le monde
Tu verras qu'il n'y a que lui
Depuis qu'on est là
Tous dans ce pauvre monde
Rien ne change, il n'y a que lui
Il n'y a que lui

Est-ce qu'on peut faire mieux
Recommencer le jeu
Dans un autre lieu
Les yeux dans les yeux
Où on avance un peu
Où on ferme les yeux
On ferme les yeux

On ferme les yeux
On ferme les yeux

Overall Meaning

Michel Delpech's song Il N'y A Que Lui speaks about the unshakeable truth that there is only one constant in our world and that is God. The lyrics illustrate the human tendency to search for answers everywhere, to question our existence and purpose, and to sometimes blame God for our problems. The idea of looking to the sky or searching for the Garden of Eden implies that we are constantly seeking something better, something more fulfilling. However, the lyrics suggest that our continuous search is in vain because there is only one thing that is certain, and that is the presence of God.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of materialism and its emptiness. The lines "Peut-on se croire tranquille au bord d'une piscine / En jetant un billet de mille aux pauvres, aux imbéciles" speak about the futility of wealth and how it cannot bring true happiness. It also highlights how those who are privileged often choose to turn a blind eye to those who are less fortunate, instead of using their resources to make a positive change in the world.

In the end, the lyrics suggest that when we are no longer here, we will see that the only constant, the only truth, and the only one who can bring any real meaning to our lives is God. The song's message is clear - no matter how hard we search or how much we accumulate in our lives, ultimately, there is only one thing that truly matters.

Line by Line Meaning

On peut scruter le ciel
We can scrutinize the sky

Entendre l'appel
Hear the call

Retourner les pierres
Turn over the stones

Du jardin d'Eden
From the garden of Eden

Trébucher, tomber
Stumble, fall

Et s'en prendre à nous-mêmes
And blame ourselves

Ou accuser
Or accuse

Dieu lui-même
God himself

Peut-on se croire tranquille
Can we believe we are calm

Au bord d'une piscine
By the edge of a pool

En je tant un billet de mille
While flaunting a thousand-dollar bill