Sylvain Luc comes from Bayonne. Surrounded by the inspiring atmosphere of h… Read Full Bio ↴Sylvain Luc comes from Bayonne. Surrounded by the inspiring atmosphere of his eagerly music practising brothers, he chooses the guitar as his instrument at the age of 5. He is 9 when he enters the conservatoire and starts recording his first album of Basque folklore "Elgarrekin" together with his brothers. In the Luc family they remember with tenderness the year when he made his stage debut as Joe Dassin with a local group.

His preference for the strings is not limited to the guitar alone; by exploring the classical richness (with Jorge Cardoso), he learns to appreciate the mandolin, the violin and studies the cello for 10 years. At the age of 12 he joins the group of his brother Gerard, accordionist, and makes his second "family record", "Olinakarin". In the early 80's, when he is 15, he discovers jazz and starts his first group "Bulle Quintet". 1982 he gets an award at the Festival international de San Sebastian.

Gentil coquelicot
Sylvain Luc Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Me suis levée un beau matin

J'ai descendu dans mon jardin
J'ai descendu dans mon jardin
Pour y cueillir du romarin

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot, nouveau!

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot

J'n'en avais pas cueilli trois brins
J'n'en avais pas cueilli trois brins
Qu'un rossignol vint sur ma main

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot, nouveau!
Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot

Il me dit trois mots en latin
Il me dit trois mots en latin
Que les hommes ne valent rien

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot, nouveau!
Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot

Des dames, il ne me dit rien
Des dames, il ne me dit rien
Et des demoiselles beaucoup de bien

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot, nouveau!

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Gentil coquelicot.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sylvain Luc's song Gentil coquelicot tell a story of a woman who wakes up one morning and descends into her garden to pick some rosemary. However, she is interrupted by a friendly poppy flower who she addresses as "Gentil coquelicot" and welcomes as something new. As she begins to pick the poppy, a nightingale suddenly lands on her hand, surprising her. The nightingale speaks to her in Latin and reveals that "men are worth nothing." However, the nightingale does have some positive things to say about women and maidens.

The lyrics of this song are poetic and multi-layered, with different interpretations possible. One interpretation could be that the poppy and the nightingale represent nature and its wisdom, while the woman represents society and its flaws. The nightingale's message that "men are worth nothing" could be seen as a statement about patriarchy and the power dynamics between men and women, while the appreciation for women and maidens could be a recognition of their resilience and importance in society. The song is ultimately a celebration of nature and its ability to offer insights and wisdom to those who are open to receive it.

Line by Line Meaning

Me suis levée un beau matin
I woke up one beautiful morning

J'ai descendu dans mon jardin
I went down to my garden

Pour y cueillir du romarin
To pick some rosemary

Gentil coquelicot, mesdames
Beautiful poppy, ladies

Gentil coquelicot, nouveau!
Beautiful new poppy!

J'n'en avais pas cueilli trois brins
I hadn't even picked three strands of it

Qu'un rossignol vint sur ma main
When a nightingale came onto my hand

Il me dit trois mots en latin
He said three words to me in Latin

Que les hommes ne valent rien
That men are worth nothing

Des dames, il ne me dit rien
He didn't say anything about ladies

Et des demoiselles beaucoup de bien
But he spoke highly of young maidens