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.
Ma dernière volonté
Serge Reggiani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je devrais mourir sans remords
J'ai fait mon plein de crépuscules
Je n'devrais pas crier "encore"
Moi le païen, le pauvre diable
Qui prenait Satan pour un Bleu
Je rends mon âme la tête basse
La mort me tire par les cheveux
Vivre, vivre
Même sans soleil, même sans été
Vivre, vivre
C'est ma dernière volonté
Dites-moi que le Bon Dieu existe
Qu'il a une barbe et des mains
Que Saint-Pierre est le brave type
Qu'on m'a décrit dans les bouquins
Dites-moi que les anges ont des ailes
Dites-moi que les poules ont des dents
Que je jouerai du violoncelle
Là-haut dans mon costume blanc
Vivre, vivre
Même sans maison, même sans souliers
Vivre, vivre
C'est ma dernière volonté
J'avais le blasphème facile
Et j'entends d'ici mes copains
Crier: "le traître, l'imbécile
Il meurt comme un vulgaire chrétien"
Qu'ils m'excusent si je suis lâche
Je veux bien rire autant qu'on veut
Mais quand on se trouve à ma place
On prend quand même un coup de vieux
Vivre, vivre
Même bancal, même à moitié
Vivre, vivre
C'est ma dernière volonté
Je vois de la lumière noire
C'est ce qu'a dit le père Hugo
Moi qui ne pense pas à l'histoire
Je manque d'esprit d'à-propos
Non, je n'ai vraiment plus la force
De faire un dernier jeu de mots
Je sors par la petite porte
J'ai le trouillomètre à zéro
Vivre, vivre
Quand faut y aller, il faut y aller
Vivre, vivre
Monsieur Saint-Pierre, la charité
Vivre, vivre
En plein soleil, en plein été
Vivre, vivre
C'est ma dernière volonté
Vivre, vivre, vivre, vivre...
In Serge Reggiani's song "Ma dernière volonté" (My last will), the singer reflects on his life as he faces death, acknowledging his past as a ruthless person and accepting that he must face the consequences without any regrets. He has lived life to the fullest, taking pleasure in darkness and not wanting to prolong his existence. He is now ready to accept his fate, but hopes for reassurance that there is an afterlife and that he will be rewarded for his actions. He longs for the existence of a benevolent God, and for the chance to play the cello in heaven. Despite being fearful, the singer remains resolute in his last wish to live, even if it is in a different realm.
The mood of the song is melancholic yet hopeful, and Reggiani's voice captures the emotions of the singer perfectly. The lyrics are a reflection on life and death, and the uncertainty that surrounds what happens after we pass on. It is a poignant reminder that no matter how much we indulge in life, we all must face death eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
Moi qui ai vécu sans scrupules
As someone who lived a carefree life without any consideration for morality or ethics
Je devrais mourir sans remords
Expected to die with a clear conscience
J'ai fait mon plein de crépuscules
Having already lived a full life, filled with highs and lows
Je n'devrais pas crier encore
I shouldn't be asking for more time, as it would be greedy and pointless
Moi le païen, le pauvre diable
As a non-believer who saw Satan in a more favourable light compared to others
Qui prenait Satan pour un Bleu
A reference to Satan as a novice, i.e., inexperienced or unknowledgeable
Je rends mon âme la tête basse
To give away one's soul in humiliation or submission
La mort me tire par les cheveux
Death is pulling me towards it, and I have no escape
Dites-moi que le Bon Dieu existe
Hoping that God exists, and it brings comfort and assurance
Qu'il a une barbe et des mains
A description of God's appearance to make it more tangible and familiar
Que Saint-Pierre est le brave type
A reference to Saint Peter, portrayed as a kind and just figure in various books
Qu'on m'a décrit dans les bouquins
The description of heavenly figures found in various religious texts
Dites-moi que les anges ont des ailes
The description of heavenly figures found in various religious texts
Dites-moi que les poules ont des dents
Asking absurd questions as a form of humour in the face of death
Que je jouerai du violoncelle
Describing a heavenly activity one wishes to participate in after death
Là-haut dans mon costume blanc
Describing one's image in heaven, in a neat and clean white outfit
J'avais le blasphème facile
As someone who used to curse or swear without thought or guilt
Et j'entends d'ici mes copains
Knowing the response of friends and colleagues upon hearing of one's death
Crier: "le traître, l'imbécile
Calling out the person as someone who turned his back on their beliefs or as a foolish person
Il meurt comme un vulgaire chrétien"
Dying like an ordinary Christian whom he did not see eye to eye with
Qu'ils m'excusent si je suis lâche
Asking for forgiveness if he appears cowardly
Je veux bien rire autant qu'on veut
Although wanting to be humorous, it would have no bearing on his impending death.
Mais quand on se trouve à ma place
As someone facing impending death, having to experience it to feel its full weight
On prend quand même un coup de vieux
It ages you prematurely, no matter how old you are
Je vois de la lumière noire
Seeing darkness and the end of a journey
C'est ce qu'a dit le père Hugo
A reference to Victor Hugo's writing with the assumption he had authority on such topics
Moi qui ne pense pas à l'histoire
As someone who does not care for chronicles of life and past events
Je manque d'esprit d'à-propos
Not having the right words or tact in this delicate situation
Non, je n'ai vraiment plus la force
Having no more strength, probably physical or emotional
De faire un dernier jeu de mots
The ability to be humorous even in difficult times, having it disappear altogether
Je sors par la petite porte
Exiting life humbly and unceremoniously
J'ai le trouillomètre à zéro
Being scared makes one lose control over their faculties.
Quand faut y aller, il faut y aller
Knowing one must face his fate and accept it.
Monsieur Saint-Pierre, la charité
Asking for aid and compassion from Saint Peter, the gatekeeper of Heaven.
En plein soleil, en plein été
As someone who loves life and will take it as it comes, be it bright or dull.
C'est ma dernière volonté
A final request, something you wish for, or something that marked your life.
Vivre, vivre, vivre, vivre...
A desire to live life to the fullest, whatever it may bring, and despite its inevitable end.
Contributed by Sarah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joost Michels
This is an absolute georgous piece of music. Thanks for making it available
M7AMAD SYR
Un chef-d"oeuvre éternel, j'adore cette chanson elle est parmi les meilleurs, merci.
musicadicuore
:)
M7AMAD SYR
De rien! mademoiselle Melania :)
musicadicuore
Si ca vous plait, ca me plait. Merci pour votre visite. A la prochaine! Melania
Blasius
After all this years: one of my favourites of Serge!
musicadicuore
@Blasius One of my favourites, too. Although it's so difficult to choose among his songs... Thanks a lot for your kind words. Melania
musicadicuore
@pe1rdw I listened to the Dutch version and I admit it sounds good. Perhaps, if I were Dutch, I would agree with you. But I'm not. Nor am I French, so I cannot be accused of being subjective. To conclude, I prefer the French (original) version, which I also find very intense and able to convey the highest emotion possible. Yet, since Serge Reggiani and Ramses Shaffy are not competing against each other, I think one can listen to and appreciate both versions. Thanks for your comment.
Rudy Duprez
Prachtig, heb er geen woorden voor, bedankt Mr reggiani!
musicadicuore
@Memale2009 Moi, aussi, j'aime beaucoup le message de cette chanson, surtout parce-qu'il decrit tres bien l'homme Serge Reggiani, un amoureaux de vie et un bon viveur, pour faire un jeu de mots. Un homme qui a bu goulument le verre de la vie, avec une soif qui jamais ne s'est calmee (voir aussi 'mon pays c'est la vie'; 'quand l'orchestre s'arretera/ je danserai encore'). C'est ca qui explique cette interpretation passionee, d'une intensite' troublante. Merci pour votre commentaire. A' bientot!