Michel Sardou (born January 26, 1947) is a French singer.

He was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Michel Sardou (born January 26, 1947) is a French singer.

He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin (Jackie Sardou). Contrary to what has been written at the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou.

He is known for songs dealing with various social and political issues, such as the rights of women in Islamic countries, clerical celibacy and colonialism. Another sometimes controversial theme found in some of his songs ("Les Ricains," for example) is respect and support for the culture and foreign policies of the United States. Another notable fact about his career is that he has focused his full attention on his homeland, ignoring the prospect of an international audience, although his 1981 single "Les lacs du Connemara" did manage to become a big international hit. A number of his hit songs were written in collaboration with Jacques Revaux, a few others (most notably "En chantant") with Italian singer Toto Cutugno.

Even in the 21st century, Michel Sardou remains immensely popular in France, selling out 18 consecutive dates at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in 2001, while his 2004 album "Du plaisir" went straight to the no. 1 spot on the French album charts.

He has been married three times, first to a French dancer, then to Babette (the mother of his children) and lastly to an lifelong friend who edits the French version of Vogue.

He is currently (2023) at the center of a controversy over a song he wrote fifty years ago: the lakes of Connemara. Juliette Armanet, a French pop starlet answering a question about a song that would made her leave a party and it was LES LACS DU CONNEMARA. Sardou, an idol of the French right, in spite of himself, is stuck between the left which finds him corny and the right which does not support that one attacks its institutions. Music is a strong force and nobody fights harder than those who LOVE certain songs. Amazingly this song has nothing to do with politics.

Les Fougères
Michel Sardou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
On vient pour couper ta forêt"
On vient pour couper ta forêt"
Il dit: "D’accord mais, s’il vous plaît
Il dit: "D’accord mais, s’il vous plaît
Ne tuez jamais mes fougères"
Ne tuez jamais mes fougères"

Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
A quoi peuvent servir des fougères?"
A quoi peuvent servir des fougères?"
Il dit que bientôt c’est la guerre
Il dit que bientôt c’est la guerre
Qu’elles serviront pour le cacher
Qu’elles serviront pour le cacher
Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
Il va falloir semer les blés"
Il va falloir semer les blés"
Il dit: "D’accord si vous voulez
Il dit: "D’accord si vous voulez
Mais ne tuez jamais mes fougères"
Mais ne tuez jamais mes fougères"

Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
On n’se nourrit pas de fougères"
On n’se nourrit pas de fougères"
Il dit que bientôt c’est la guerre
Il dit que bientôt c’est la guerre
Qu’il faudra vivre sans manger
Qu’il faudra vivre sans manger

Quand il a déclaré la guerre
Quand il a déclaré la guerre
Parc’qu’on avait voulu semer
Parc’qu’on avait voulu semer
Il nous a tués par derrière
Il nous a tués par derrière

Nous n’avions rien pour nous cacher
Nous n’avions rien pour nous cacher

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michel Sardou's song "Les Fougères" convey a story of a man who is deeply connected to nature, specifically to his ferns. When he is told that his forest will be cut down, he agrees but pleads to spare his ferns. The man believes that the ferns will serve a purpose in the future, as they will be needed to hide during a war. When he is told that it's time to sow wheat, he agrees again but emphasizes the importance of preserving his ferns. However, when war is declared and the man's attempt to hide behind the ferns fails, he and his community are killed because they had nothing to protect themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Quand on lui dit: "Homme de la terre
When they say to him: "Man of the land

On vient pour couper ta forêt"
They come to cut down your forest"

Il dit: "D’accord mais, s’il vous plaît
He says: "Alright, but please

Ne tuez jamais mes fougères"
Never kill my ferns"

A quoi peuvent servir des fougères?"
What can ferns be used for?"

Il dit que bientôt c’est la guerre
He says that soon it will be war

Qu’elles serviront pour le cacher
That they will be used to hide

Il va falloir semer les blés"
We will have to sow the wheat"

Il dit: "D’accord si vous voulez
He says: "Alright if you want

Mais ne tuez jamais mes fougères"
But never kill my ferns"

On n’se nourrit pas de fougères"
We do not eat ferns"