Michel Fugain is a French singer-songwriter who began his songwriting caree… Read Full Bio ↴Michel Fugain is a French singer-songwriter who began his songwriting career for others (like Hugues Aufray or Dalida) in the early 1960s and released his first record in 1966. He reached the peak of his popularity with his musical troupe "Big Bazar" in the early 1970s, with a string of major hits including "Une Belle Histoire" and "Fais Comme l'Oiseau", and had never ceased to record since then.

Les Cerises de Mr Clement
Michel Fugain Lyrics

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Un certain Clément Jean Baptiste
Qui habitait rue Saint-Vincent
Voulant écrire un compliment
Trempa sa plume dans le sang
Qu'elles étaient rouges les cerises
Que nous chantait Monsieur Clément

C'était plus beau qu'un Evangile

C'était des mots de maintenant
Mais il faudrait que nos enfants
N'attendent pas comme on attend
Qu'elles mûrissent les cerises
Que nous chantait Monsieur Clément

Bien sûr c'est difficile
De mourir quand on a vingt ans
Mais pour quelques cerises
Que ne ferait-on au printemps

De République en République
Toujours cocu toujours content
On applaudit les bons truands
Au ventre rond au ventre blanc
Qui nous revendent les cerises
Qu'avait rêvé Monsieur Clément

Tous ces pontifes des Eglises
Tous ces suiveurs de régiments
Voudront nous manger tout vivant
Mais ils se casseront les dents
Sur les noyaux de ces cerises
Du verger de Monsieur Clément

Bien sûr c'est difficile
De mourir quand on a vingt ans

Mais pour quelques cerises
Que ne ferait-on au printemps

Overall Meaning

The song talks about a man named Clément Jean Baptiste who lived in rue Saint-Vincent and wanted to write a compliment, but instead dipped his pen in blood. The lyrics then focus on how Clément used to sing a song about red cherries that was more beautiful than the Gospel, with words that were relevant to the present. The singer then laments the fact that children today have to wait for cherries to ripen, while also acknowledging the difficulty of dying at a young age. The song then shifts to criticize those in power, who are corrupt and always content with being cuckolded. They sell cherries that were imagined by Monsieur Clément and try to control and consume us, but ultimately will fail in their attempts.

The song's protagonist, Monsieur Clément, is actually based on a real-life person. Michel Fugain met Clément Le Goff in Montmartre, Paris, and was inspired by his simple, poetic way of speaking. Clément Le Goff was a painter and a prominent figure in Montmartre, who lived above the famous Lapin Agile cabaret. He would often recite his poems and songs at the cabaret.

The song was released in 1972 and became a hit in France, reaching number one on the charts. It won the Grand Prix du Disque in 1973, which was a prestigious award in France for music.

"Les Cerises de Monsieur Clément" was covered by many artists, including the legendary French accordionist Yvette Horner, and has become a classic in French music.

The song's lyrics have been interpreted in various ways, with some considering it to be an allegory for the corruption in French politics and others viewing it as a romanticized tribute to a humble artist.

The song's melody is based on an old French folk tune called "La Complainte des infidèles" ("The Complaint of the Unfaithful"), which Fugain had heard during his childhood in Grenoble.

The track features prominent drums, acoustic guitars, and brass instruments, which contribute to its upbeat and catchy sound.

The song's lyrics have been translated into various languages, including English, Spanish, and German.

"Les Cerises de Monsieur Clément" has been used in several movies and TV shows, including the 2014 film "Lulu in the Nude."

The song's chorus, "Mais pour quelques cerises que ne ferait-on au printemps" ("But for a few cherries, what wouldn't we do in the spring"), has become a well-known French expression.

Chords (Capo 2):

Verse: Am, F, C, G

Chorus: F, G, Am, F, G, C, G, Am

Line by Line Meaning

Un certain Clément Jean Baptiste
There was a man named Clément Jean Baptiste

Qui habitait rue Saint-Vincent
He lived on Rue Saint-Vincent

Voulant écrire un compliment
Wanting to write a compliment

Trempa sa plume dans le sang
He dipped his pen in blood

Qu'elles étaient rouges les cerises
How red the cherries were

Que nous chantait Monsieur Clément
That Monsieur Clément sang about

C'était plus beau qu'un Evangile
It was more beautiful than a gospel

C'était des mots de maintenant
It was words of the present