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.
Si L'On Revient Moins Riche
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'veux dire, en plein délire, en plein vagabondage
J'ai l'air de plaisanter
Mais j'rigole pas du tout
Être une fois cinglés
Une fois vraiment fous
Partir, bon Dieu, partir sans savoir où l'on va
D'accord, on prend la fuite
Imaginons la suite
Pour un mois, pour un an
J'sais pas
Et si l'on revient moins riche
Qu'est-ce que ça peut faire?
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
C'est pas notre affaire
Je rêve d'une route en plein soleil
D'île aux oiseaux
Où nous aurions toujours sommeil
Et si l'on revient moins riche
C'est tout aussi bien
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
Ça je n'en sais rien
Je t'aurai vue nager sous un ciel d'occident
Rêver tout éveillée devant un océan
Un été éternel
D'un amour aquarelle
C'est pas original
C'est bleu carte postale
Nous garderons, tant pis, même si c'est un peu bête
Ces reflets de la vie comme un mauvais poète
On aura eu l'idée
D'un paradis sur terre
On aura joué la pièce entière
Et si l'on revient moins riche
Qu'est-ce que ça peut faire?
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
C'est pas notre affaire
Je rêve d'une route en plein soleil
D'île aux oiseaux
Où nous aurions toujours sommeil
Et si l'on revient moins riche
C'est peut-être mieux
Avant que l'on en finisse
Avant d'être vieux
On aura eu des souvenirs
Des nuits entières
À rêver sans dormir
The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song "Si L'On Revient Moins Riche" depict a sense of longing for adventure and escape from the mundane. The singer imagines sharing tales of their next voyage, emphasizing the idea of being free-spirited and embracing a nomadic lifestyle. Although the lyrics initially seem lighthearted and joking, there is a deeper longing for a life that breaks away from conventional norms.
The singer yearns to embark on a journey, not knowing where they are going, and indulging in activities like windsurfing in unexpected places. They propose the idea of escaping and leaving their present circumstances behind. They convey the desire to live in the moment, whether it's for a month or a year, without worrying about material wealth or societal expectations.
The chorus of the song reflects the singer's indifference towards returning from the journey with less wealth. They question who the real rich people are and suggest that it is not their concern. Instead, they dream of a road in the sun, an island full of birds, and constantly feeling sleepy. The lyrics express contentment with returning from the journey without financial gains, highlighting the importance of experiences, memories, and a sense of freedom.
Overall, "Si L'On Revient Moins Riche" captures the yearning for a carefree and adventurous life, where material wealth is unimportant compared to the experiences and joy that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Et si j'te racontais notre prochain voyage?
What if I told you about our next journey?
J'veux dire, en plein délire, en plein vagabondage
I mean, in full delirium, in full wandering
J'ai l'air de plaisanter
I seem to be joking
Mais j'rigole pas du tout
But I'm not joking at all
Être une fois cinglés
To be crazy once
Une fois vraiment fous
Truly insane for once
Partir, bon Dieu, partir sans savoir où l'on va
To leave, oh God, to leave without knowing where we're going
Faire de la planche à voile au détour d'un delta
To windsurf at the turn of a delta
D'accord, on prend la fuite
Okay, let's escape
Imaginons la suite
Let's imagine what comes next
Pour un mois, pour un an
For a month, for a year
J'sais pas
I don't know
Et si l'on revient moins riche
And if we come back less wealthy
Qu'est-ce que ça peut faire?
What does it matter?
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
Besides, who will be the rich ones?
C'est pas notre affaire
It's not our concern
Je rêve d'une route en plein soleil
I dream of a road in full sunlight
D'île aux oiseaux
Of a bird island
Où nous aurions toujours sommeil
Where we would always be sleepy
Et si l'on revient moins riche
And if we come back less wealthy
C'est tout aussi bien
It's just as good
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
Besides, who will be the rich ones?
Ça je n'en sais rien
That I don't know
Je t'aurai vue nager sous un ciel d'occident
I will have seen you swim under a western sky
Rêver tout éveillée devant un océan
Dreaming wide awake in front of an ocean
Un été éternel
An eternal summer
D'un amour aquarelle
Of a watercolor love
C'est pas original
It's not original
C'est bleu carte postale
It's blue like a postcard
Nous garderons, tant pis, même si c'est un peu bête
We will keep them, too bad, even if it's a bit silly
Ces reflets de la vie comme un mauvais poète
These reflections on life like a bad poet
On aura eu l'idée
We will have had the idea
D'un paradis sur terre
Of a paradise on earth
On aura joué la pièce entière
We will have performed the whole play
Et si l'on revient moins riche
And if we come back less wealthy
Qu'est-ce que ça peut faire?
What does it matter?
D'ailleurs, qui seront les riches?
Besides, who will be the rich ones?
C'est pas notre affaire
It's not our concern
Je rêve d'une route en plein soleil
I dream of a road in full sunlight
D'île aux oiseaux
Of a bird island
Où nous aurions toujours sommeil
Where we would always be sleepy
Et si l'on revient moins riche
And if we come back less wealthy
C'est peut-être mieux
Maybe it's better
Avant que l'on en finisse
Before we're done
Avant d'être vieux
Before we get old
On aura eu des souvenirs
We will have had memories
Des nuits entières
Whole nights
À rêver sans dormir
Dreaming without sleeping
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Didier Barbelivien, Jacques Revaud, Michel Sardou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind