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
Le Loir & Cher
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ces gens-là ne font pas de manières
Ils passent tout l'automne à creuser des sillons
À tourner des hectares de terre
Je n'ai jamais eu grand chose à leur dire
Mais je les aime depuis toujours
De temps en temps, je vais les voir
Je passe le dimanche dans l'Loir et Cher
Ils me disent, ils me disent
"Tu vis sans jamais voir un cheval, un hibou"
Ils me disent
"Tu viens plus, même pour pécher un poisson
Tu ne penses plus à nous
On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue
On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous"
(On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue)
(On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous)
Chaque fois que je m'arrête dans le Loir et Cher
Ils ne m'laissent plus partir de chez eux
Je leur dis qu'il faut que je rentre sur Paris
Que je ne fais pas toujours ce que j'veux
Et qu'il faut que je trouve encore un poste d'essence
Que j'n'ai pas le temps de finir ma bière
Que je reviendrai un de ces dimanches
Passer la nuit dans le Loir et Cher
Ils me disent, ils me disent
"Tu vis sans jamais voir un cheval, un hibou"
Ils me disent
"Tu viens plus, même pour pécher un poisson
Tu ne penses plus à nous
On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue
On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous"
(On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue)
(On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous)
"On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue
On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous
On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue
On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous"
Michel Delpech's song "Le Loir et Cher" talks about the singer's love for his family who resides in the Loir et Cher region of France. The people of this region, according to the singer, are simple and hardworking, spending most of their time digging furrows and working in farms. Despite their simplicity, the singer loves and respects them, returning to visit them on occasional Sundays. During these visits, the singer's family criticizes him for living a life that is far removed from the countryside. They accuse him of not coming to visit them enough and forgetting his roots. They also remark that he seems to be uncomfortable with getting dirty and eating simple meals. Despite these criticisms, the singer loves his family and enjoys spending time with them, promising to return to visit them frequently.
The lyrics of "Le Loir et Cher" contain multiple themes. Firstly, the song evokes nostalgia for the countryside and the singer's family roots. The singer cherishes the simple life of his family and identifies with the hard work they do every day. Secondly, the song highlights differences between urban and rural life. The family in Loir et Cher perceives the singer's life in the city to be dissimilar to theirs and disapprove of his lifestyle choices. Lastly, the song explores the theme of family relationships and closeness. Despite the differences between the singer's urban and rural lifestyle, he still loves and connects with his family in the Loir et Cher region.
Line by Line Meaning
Ma famille habite dans le Loir et Cher
My family lives in Loir et Cher
Ces gens-là ne font pas de manières
These people don't make a fuss
Ils passent tout l'automne à creuser des sillons
They spend all autumn plowing furrows
À tourner des hectares de terre
Turning hectares of land
Je n'ai jamais eu grand chose à leur dire
I never had much to say to them
Mais je les aime depuis toujours
But I've loved them forever
De temps en temps, je vais les voir
From time to time, I go see them
Je passe le dimanche dans l'Loir et Cher
I spend Sundays in Loir et Cher
Ils me disent, ils me disent
They tell me, they tell me
"Tu vis sans jamais voir un cheval, un hibou"
"You live without ever seeing a horse, an owl"
Ils me disent
They tell me
"Tu viens plus, même pour pécher un poisson
"You don't come anymore, not even to fish
Tu ne penses plus à nous
You don't think about us anymore
On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue
It seems like you're uncomfortable walking in the mud
On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous"
It seems like you're uncomfortable having dinner with us"
(On dirait que ça te gêne de marcher dans la boue)
(It seems like you're uncomfortable walking in the mud)
(On dirait que ça te gêne de dîner avec nous)
(It seems like you're uncomfortable having dinner with us)
Chaque fois que je m'arrête dans le Loir et Cher
Every time I stop in Loir et Cher
Ils ne m'laissent plus partir de chez eux
They don't let me leave their house anymore
Je leur dis qu'il faut que je rentre sur Paris
I tell them I have to go back to Paris
Que je ne fais pas toujours ce que j'veux
That I don't always do what I want
Et qu'il faut que je trouve encore un poste d'essence
And I have to find another gas station
Que j'n'ai pas le temps de finir ma bière
That I don't have time to finish my beer
Que je reviendrai un de ces dimanches
That I'll come back one of these Sundays
Passer la nuit dans le Loir et Cher
To spend the night in Loir et Cher
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Michel Delpech, Jean-Michel Franck Rivat, Michel Albert Louis Pelay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind