After acting school he was discovered by Jean Cocteau and appeared in a wartime production of Les parents terribles ("The Terrible Parents"). His first feature film came in 1946 with his role in Les portes de la nuit ("The Doors of the Night"). He later went on to perform in 80 films including The Pianist (1998).
In 1965 he began a second career as a singer, with the help of Simone Signoret and her husband Yves Montand. Reggiani became one of the most acclaimed performers of French "Chanson" ("song") and although he was in his 40s, his bad-boy image made him popular with both young and older listeners. His best known songs include "Les loups sont entres dans Paris" ("The Wolves Have Entered Paris") and "La femme qui est dans mon lit." ("The Woman Who Is In My Bed").
In later life he became a painter and gave a number of exhibitions of his artwork.
Serge Reggiani died of a heart attack at the age of 82, one day after the death of another well known French singer Sacha Distel. He is interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse.
Le vieux couple
Serge Reggiani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est que tu fais la voix du haut
C'est toi qui sais, c'est toi qui dis
C'est toi qui penses et moi je suis
Mais les grands soirs lorsque tu pleures
Quand tu as peur dans ta chaloupe
C'est moi qui parle pendant des heures
Nous sommes en somme un vieux couple
Je n'sais plus où je t'ai connu
C'est à l'école ou au guignol
Je me rappelle cet ingénu
Qui avait perdu la boussole
Depuis je t'empêche de boire
Sauf les grands soirs dans ta chaloupe
Quand tu me chantes tes déboires
Nous sommes en somme un vieux couple
Avec ta tête d'épagneul
Qui n'a pas appris à nager
Avec ma gueule à rester seul
Derrière des demis panachés
Quand les grands soirs dans ta chaloupe
Nous parlons de tes états d'âme
Et que tu diffames ma femme
Nous sommes en somme un vieux couple
Le 16 août 1960
J'ai marié cette dame charmante
Cinq jours après j'étais parti
Et tu me bordais dans mon lit
Alors a commencé la nuit
Alors a commencé la nuit
Dont on se croyait les étoiles
Mais on n'était que les cigales
On s'est battu, on s'est perdu
Tu as souvent refait ta vie
Et le plus beau, tu m'as trahi
Mais tu ne m'en as pas voulu
Et les grands soirs dans ta chaloupe
Tu connais bien mes habitudes
Je connais bien ta solitude
Nous sommes en somme un vieux couple
Mon ami, mon copain, mon frère
Ma vieille chance, ma galère
Mon enfant, mon Judas, mon juge
Ma rassurance, mon refuge
Mon frère, mon faux-monnayeur
Mon ami, mon valet de cœur
Je ne voudrais pas que tu meures
Je ne voudrais pas que tu meures.
The lyrics of Serge Reggiani's song Le vieux couple are rich in detailed and poetic descriptions of the singer's life with his long-term partner who, it seems, has become more like a lifelong friend. The song explores the singer's feelings of comfort and frustration, love and betrayal with his partner. At the beginning of the song, he explains that he is fond of their duo because his partner takes the high voice and sings the melody while he supports her with his low voice, contributing to the harmony. He acknowledges that it is his partner who shares her thoughts, ideas, and emotions while he just listens, yet the singer sets his own terms when he talks about her crying and fears, saying it is he who speaks for hours.
The second verse shifts to the singer's memories of when he first met his partner, unsure if it was at school or a puppet show. He recalls how innocent and disoriented his partner was and describes how he now protects her from her tendency to drink too much, except on the big nights when she is upset, and they find themselves in her little boat. Even though they are both past their prime and may fight and lose their way, they remain together, talking about each other's states of mind, and they rely on each other for comfort and familiarity.
Overall, Le vieux couple is a beautiful portrayal of a complex relationship, and the emotional nuances of their life together are captured with a touching sensitivity. The song tugs at the heartstrings with its beautiful melody, and the poetic lyrics will linger long in the memory of the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Ce qui me plaît dans ce duo
I like about this duo that you sing the high note. You know, you speak, you think and I just follow along. But on those big nights when you cry and afraid in your little boat, I talk for hours. We are, after all, an old couple.
Je n'sais plus où je t'ai connu
I can't remember where I met you; was it at school or the puppet show? I remember that innocent soul who had lost their way. Since then, I've been keeping you from drinking, except on those big nights in your little boat, when you sing to me about all your problems. We are, after all, an old couple.
Avec ta tête d'épagneul
With your spaniel's head that never learned to swim and my face that stays alone behind half-and-half beers. And on those big nights in your little boat, we talk about your emotional state and you defame my wife. We are, after all, an old couple.
Le 16 août 1960
On August 16th, 1960, I married that charming lady. Five days later, I left, and you tucked me into bed. That's when the night began, a night we thought were the stars, but we were only the cicadas.
On s'est battu, on s'est perdu
We fought, we got lost. You've often started a new life, and the most beautiful thing was that you betrayed me but didn't blame me. And on those big nights in your little boat, you know my habits, I know your solitude. We are, after all, an old couple.
Mon ami, mon copain, mon frère
My friend, my buddy, my brother, my old chance, my misery, my child, my Judas, my judge, my reassurance, my refuge, my brother, my counterfeiter, my friend, my valet of hearts. I wouldn't want you to die. I wouldn't want you to die.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACQUES DATIN, JEAN LOUP DABADIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucdussault6260
Un succès "master-peace" par trop ignoré ... Quelle merveilleuse chanson !
@freddychauvetiere5469
Une merveilleuse chanson qui me toute énormément,que je fais mienne
@domdoria1905
Magnifique et émouvante chanson..
@JoyeuxBordel2024
Merci Serge :-)
@lorrainedame1145
Merci monsieur Reggiani 🌹
@nadabritel2096
Regiani !
C'est a consommer sans modération.
On ne s'en lasse pas !!
@bruneauhe9587
Paroles de Jean-loup Dabadie chanté par l'uns des plus grands chanteurs de ce siècle, Monsieur Serge Réggiani. C'est un chef d'oeuvre.
@marielocigno8801
Un chef-d’œuvre cette chanson.... ❤️😪❣️merci Serge je vous ai toujours aimé ❣️🌹
@brightoun44
Respect à ce grand monsieur, tout mes hommages monsieur Reggiani
@aermj1
Monsieur Reggiani , ( respect ) nostalgique à souhait cette chanson ..♥