Serge Reggiani (May 2, 1922 - July 23, 2004) was an Italian-born French sin… Read Full Bio ↴Serge Reggiani (May 2, 1922 - July 23, 2004) was an Italian-born French singer, painter and actor. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight. For many years, he struggled with alcoholism, caused in part by the 1980 suicide of his son Stephan.

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.

Soixante-dix balais
Serge Reggiani Lyrics

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Tes soixante-dix balais
Bats-les
Va-t'en jusqu'à cent ans
Chantant
T'as eu quatre-vingt dix
Jadis
Mais trois chiffres c'est mieux
Mon vieux !

Tes soixante-dix printemps
Tiens-t'en
Jamais à eux, papa
Faut pas
Grimpe encore à l'échelle
Du ciel
Quelques long échelons
Grand con

Mathusalem
Faut devenir Mathusalem

Pour montrer à la vie qu'on l'aime
Et puis, tiens même, qu'on lui en veut pas
Mathusalem
Avant le temps des chrysanthèmes
Fêter dignement sa centième
Pendant qu' la mort fait les cent pas

Tes soixante-dix bougies
D'orgies
D'alcool, de trac, de femmes
De drames
Fais-leur quelques nouvelles
Chandelles
Finis pas le gâteau
Trop tôt

Mathusalem
Faut devenir Mathusalem
Pour montrer à la vie qu'on l'aime
Et puis, tiens même, qu'on lui en veut pas
Mathusalem
Avant le temps des chrysanthèmes
Fêter dignement sa centième
Pendant qu' la mort fait les cent pas

Tes soixante-dix balais
Bats-les
Va-t'en plus loin, plus fou
Plus fort
Écoute bien ton coeur
Ton corps
Te répéter en choeur
«Encore !»

Tes soixante-dix fois douze
Mois d' blues
Faut leur faire un enfant
D' trente ans
Avant de dire aussi
Do si

La sol fa mi ré do
Rideau !

Overall Meaning

The song "Soixante-dix balais" (Seventy Brooms) by Serge Reggiani is a tribute to the passage of time and the milestones in one's life. The song starts with celebrating the 70th birthday of the person being addressed in the lyrics with the words "Tes soixante-dix balais, bats-les" (Your seventy candles, blow them out). The song encourages the person to keep going and aim for a hundred years of age, saying that three digits are even better than two.

The second verse of the song speaks about the need to keep climbing and taking on new challenges, with the metaphor of climbing a ladder being used. The lyrics say "Grimpe encore à l'échelle du ciel, quelques long échelons, grand con" (Climb up the ladder to the sky, a few long rungs, you big jerk). The message is clear - don't give up, keep pushing yourself.

The chorus of the song, which is repeated twice, encourages the listener to become like Methuselah, the biblical character known for his longevity, and to show life that they love it. The lyrics say "Mathusalem, faut devenir Mathusalem, pour montrer à la vie qu'on l'aime" (Methuselah, you have to become like Methuselah, to show life that you love it). The song ends with the advice to have a child at the age of 70 and then close the curtain on life.

Overall, "Soixante-dix balais" is a motivational and inspiring song that encourages the listener to keep going, to never give up, and to make the most of every opportunity in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Tes soixante-dix balais
You're turning seventy

Bats-les
Celebrate them

Va-t'en jusqu'à cent ans
Live till you're a hundred

Chantant
Singing

T'as eu quatre-vingt-dix
You turned ninety

Jadis
Once

Mais trois chiffres c'est mieux
But three digits are better

Mon vieux !
My friend!

Tes soixante-dix printemps
You've had seventy Springs

Tiens-t'en
Hang on

Jamais à eux, papa
Never yours, Dad