Born Constantino Rossi in Ajaccio, Corsica, France, he became a tenor of French cabaret and one of the great romantic idols of his time. Gifted with an operatic voice, a "Latin Lover" persona made him a movie star as well. Over his career, Rossi made hundreds of records and appeared in more than 25 films, the most notable of which was the 1953 production, Si Versailles m'était conté directed by Sacha Guitry. His romantic ballads had women swooning and his art-songs by Jules Massenet (1842-1912), Reynaldo Hahn (1875-1947), and other composers helped draw sold out audiences wherever he performed.
As a young man, he played guitar and sang at a variety of small venues in his hometown of Ajaccio before going on to perform in Marseilles and at resort clubs along the French Riviera. In the early 1930s he went to Paris and within a few years achieved enormous success, joining a Columbia Records roster that included the biggest stars of the day such as Lucienne Boyer, Damia, Pills et Tabet, Mireille, and Jean Sablon.
Rossi's success was greatly aided by songwriter Vincent Scotto (1876-1952), who wrote his first hits and collaborated with him for many years, composing and arranging many Rossi songs. Prior to World War II. Rossi was a major box office attraction in the French speaking world but expanded his audience to America with a 1938 visit followed up by wartime tours across the USA and Canada. In 1946, his song "Petit Papa Noël" sold more than thirty million copies worldwide. A Christmas classic for the family, the song still sells by the thousands each Yuletide season. The recipient of many musical awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque, Tino Rossi is the most popular personality to ever come from Corsica other than Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1947 he married Lilia Vetti, a young dancer he met while making a film. They would have a son together in a marriage that lasted for a lifetime. A star of film and the operetta scene, Tino Rossi's career also evolved into the television era, appearing in a number of popular variety shows. Age, and the advent of rock and roll in the 1960s saw him take backstage with the new generation of music lovers but he remained enormously popular with a following built up over fifty years of performing.
In 1982, for his contribution to France and its culture, President François Mitterrand named Tino Rossi a Commander of the Legion of Honor. That same year Rossi gave his last public performance at the Casino de Paris, a show that popular demand turned into a three month stint.
Tino Rossi died of pancreatic cancer in 1983 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. His body returned to his native Ajaccio for burial in the family plot at the local cemetery. His hometown named a street and the sailing harbor in his honor and at Nogent-sur-Marne, on the River Marne in Paris, there is a square named Tino Rossi Square.
Laissez Moi Vous Aimer
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mais de vous je ne puis me passer
Le jour la nuit lorsque mon cur est las
C'est vers vous que je tends les bras
Laissez-moi vous aimer
Ne serait-ce qu'un soir
Offrez-moi un instant cet instantQue j'attends sans espoir
Quand je suis près de vous
Tout mon être est charmé
Qu'importe l'avenir
Si je dois en souffrir
Laissez-moi vous aimer
Un soir d'amour
Rien qu'un soir près de vous
C'est mon désir le plus fou
Pour exprimer tout ce que je ressens
Aucun mot n'est assez caressant
Pour vous chérir pas un cur ne contient
Autant de ferveur que le mien
The lyrics to Tino Rossi's song Laissez Moi Vous Aimer express the singer's overwhelming love for someone he cannot be with. He acknowledges that his love is a foolish dream, but he cannot help but feel that he cannot live without this person. He longs for them day and night, and when his heart is weary, he reaches out to them.
The chorus of the song begs for just one evening with this person, even if it is just a fleeting moment. The singer desires to be with them more than anything and is willing to endure whatever pain may come with it. He believes that being close to them is enchanting, and is willing to take any risks to experience that love.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that no words can fully express the depth of his emotions for this person. He believes that no other heart can contain the same level of passion and devotion that he has for them. The lyrics are emotional and show the singer's desperation and longing for love, even if it is just for one night.
Overall, the lyrics to Laissez Moi Vous Aimer are a plea from the singer to be with the one he loves above all else, emphasizing the intensity of his feelings and the extent of his willingness to pursue this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Je sais qu'au fond c'est un rêve insensé
I am aware that it is an unrealistic dream.
Mais de vous je ne puis me passer
But I cannot go on without you.
Le jour la nuit lorsque mon cœur est las
During weary day or night my heart aches.
C'est vers vous que je tends les bras
I reach out to you in such moments.
Laissez-moi vous aimer
Allow me to love you.
Ne serait-ce qu'un soir
Even if it is just for a night.
Offrez-moi un instant cet instant
Gift me this moment.
Que j'attends sans espoir
That I have been waiting for without hope.
Quand je suis près de vous
When I am near you.
Tout mon être est charmé
My whole being is enchanted.
Qu'importe l'avenir
The future doesn't matter.
Si je dois en souffrir
Even if it means I will suffer.
Laissez-moi vous aimer
Allow me to love you.
Un soir d'amour
A night of love.
Rien qu'un soir près de vous
Just one night near you.
C'est mon désir le plus fou
It is my wildest desire.
Pour exprimer tout ce que je ressens
To express all of my feelings.
Aucun mot n'est assez caressant
No words are tender enough.
Pour vous chérir pas un cœur ne contient
No heart has as much devotion as mine.
Autant de ferveur que le mien
As much passion as I possess.
Writer(s): Vincent Baptiste Scotto, Francois Joseph Charles Salabert, Emile Audiffred, Georges Konyn, Rene Pujol
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@galinapungina155
Darling TINO !2025❤❤❤❤❤
@galinapungina155
Sweet voice,Tino!
@galinapungina155
2025, beloved for today, ❤❤❤ RENAT,CARLO, TINO ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@galinapungina155
Darling ! ! ! 2024❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
merci pour toutes ces chansons de Tino dont je fus FAN à 200 % , celle ci est belle mais toutes sont belles +++++++ ! merci A+
@chataignier363
Magnifique chanson, je vibre à chaque fois que je l'écoute
@marie-jeannest-germain4986
Très très beau merci beaucoup
@danieviola9697
Cette chanson me rappelle ,quand j'étais une gamine ,avec des gosses cmm moi ,nous avions adapté ,anotre manière cette chanson , mais je ne vous en dirais pas plus , ce serait indécent !
@colettemartin1045
❤❤❤
@michelchelmi6942
pour mon papa