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
Les Petits Cailloux Blancs
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
T'as des sous dans ton coffre-fort
T'as de quoi changer ton décor
Et mener la chasse au trésor
Dans la grand-ville
Alors tu feras comme moi
T'iras te perdre par là-bas
Et si tu veux rentrer chez toi
Fais attention
{Refrain:}
Sur ton chemin, tout le long, tout le temps
Sème, sème, sème des petits cailloux blancs
Tu reviendras boire à l'eau du torrent
Repêcher les poissons de l'étang
Sur ton chemin, tout le long, tout le temps
Sème, sème, sème des petits cailloux blancs
Tu reverras tes pommiers, ton printemps
Ton pays, tes amis, tes parents
Il faut partir de temps en temps
Mais s'en aller pas trop longtemps
Garde avec toi la clé du champ
Quand tu te croiras assez grand
Pour l'aventure
Quand tu joueras les vagabonds
N'emporte pas ton baluchon
Tu reviendras vers ta maison
Avant le temps de la moisson
Fais attention
{au Refrain, x2}
The lyrics of Michel Delpech's Les Petits Cailloux Blancs is all about enjoying the simple things that life has to offer rather than focusing on material possessions. The beginning of the song talks about someone who has everything - money, a chest full of wealth, and the ability to change their surroundings with ease. However, the song encourages the listener to take a break from that lifestyle and embark on an adventure. The chorus talks about sowing small white pebbles along the way so that they can trace their steps back home. The song may be interpreted as a metaphor for a journey that the listener must undergo to find their true self.
The lyrics provide a message that our journey on this earth is short and we should cherish the blessings that surround us. A lot of times, we focus on accumulating wealth and engaging in worldly pleasures that we forget the small, simple things that bring us happiness. Through his lyrics, Delpech reminds us to value the memories we make with our loved ones, our home, and the beauty of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Ta poule a pondu des oeufs d'or
You have riches beyond measure, symbolized by the golden eggs laid by your hen.
T'as des sous dans ton coffre-fort
You have a great deal of money stored in your safe.
T'as de quoi changer ton décor
You have the ability to change your surroundings with your wealth.
Et mener la chasse au trésor
You have the resources to lead a treasure hunt.
Dans la grand-ville
In the big city.
Alors tu feras comme moi
So you'll do as I do.
T'iras te perdre par là-bas
You'll go get lost over there.
Le vent effacera ton pas
The wind will erase your footsteps.
Et si tu veux rentrer chez toi
And if you want to return home.
Fais attention
Be careful.
{Refrain:}
Refrain:
Sur ton chemin, tout le long, tout le temps
Along your path, every step of the way.
Sème, sème, sème des petits cailloux blancs
Sow, sow, sow little white pebbles.
Tu reviendras boire à l'eau du torrent
You'll return to drink from the stream.
Repêcher les poissons de l'étang
To catch fish from the pond.
Il faut partir de temps en temps
You must leave from time to time.
Mais s'en aller pas trop longtemps
But don't leave for too long.
Garde avec toi la clé du champ
Keep the key to the field with you.
Quand tu te croiras assez grand
When you believe you're old enough.
Pour l'aventure
To go on an adventure.
Quand tu joueras les vagabonds
When you play the vagabond.
N'emporte pas ton baluchon
Don't bring your knapsack.
Tu reviendras vers ta maison
You'll return to your home.
Avant le temps de la moisson
Before the harvest time.
Fais attention
Be careful.
{au Refrain, x2}
To the refrain, twice.
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Françoise Fouine
sur ton chemin tout le long, tout le temps, sème sème sème,, et Michel a semé tant de bonheurs dans notre vie, ,merci Michel,
Gerda Jacot
Avec cette chanson qui a bercé mon enfance...
Sur ton chemin tout le long tout le temps
Sème sème sème des petits cailloux blancs.
R.I.P Michel
Henri Butler-payette
My father used to sing this to me.
Henri Butler-payette
My father used to sing this to me.
tychaton08
'Merci!
Claude Emond
Je chantais à mon petit garçon Benoît quand il avait trois ans en 1980, en même temps qu'on écoutait le disque. Je le prenais dans mes bras et on se montrait dans le cadre de la porte de la salle où était sa mère, Charlotte, chaque fois qu'on entendait les mots «sème, sème, sème». Benoît appelait la chanson : «Sème, sème, sème». Je l'entends encore me dire: «prends moi dans les bras...chante «sème, sème, sème» ! J'ai toujours adoré les chansons de Delpech
Auré
Merci pour cette jolie anecdote, Michel Delpech c'était ça, un homme qui accompagnait les moments de la vie des français...
Michel Brenguier
En voyage de noces nous écoutions cette chanson en boucle. Nous avons semé des cailloux blancs ( 2 enfants) et nous venons de feter nos 50 ans de mariage.