In 1972, Yves Duteil had first minor hit with a song called "Virages" (English: "Turns"). Included on his 1974 debut album L'Écritoire, it shares fame with such songs as the title track and from his next album, "J'attends" (1976), "Tisserand", "Les Batignolles" (an area of Paris), etc.
His 1977 album "Tarentelle" which will become his most classic, including not only his most famous song ("Prendre Un Enfant") but also such songs as the title track, "Le Petit Pont de Bois", "Le Mur De La Prison D'En Face" which have all become classicss.
In 2001, Duteil released "Sans Attendre", more introspective than ever and with much modesty, he tackles some aspects of his life in a way that can bring a deep sight on life, understood in the light of spiritual love. In a simple way, he sings about friendship in tough times ("Les Gestes Délicats"), compassion for a father who never showed him that much affection, which never prevents Duteil to answer with love and sings all the kind words he found to his father, no matter what his childhood was like ("Lettre À Mon Père"). And probably the most touching song: "Pour Que Tu Ne Meures Pas", which deals with Yves Duteil's wife's disease.
Hommage au passant d'un soir
Yves Duteil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rue Dufour et Rue Vaugirard, j'arrкtais vers onze heures du soir.
Je fouillais mes carnets d'adresses pour trouver deux sous de tendresse
Des amours que le petit jour emportait sans cesse.
J'ignorais ce qu'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
De chanter pour кtre moins triste et moins seul aussi.
Puis un soir, pour m'encourager, un passant, surgi du passй
M'avait dit des mots qui depuis ne m'ont plus quittй.
Quand je jouais de la guitare, avenue de l'Observatoire
J'ignorais que dans ton regard, le bonheur йtait provisoire.
J'йcrivais des chansons d'amour et chacun s'asseyait autour.
Des sourires йtaient ma rйcompense et tu souris toujours.
J'ignorais ce qu'йtait ta vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
De chanter pour que tout soit bien quand le ciel est gris.
Tout autour dans nos univers, le printemps virait а l'hiver
Et les jours du calendrier passaient а l'envers.
Puis j'ai jouй de la guitare sur ton cњur et loin des regards.
Tout le reste йtait dйrisoire, le prйsent perdait la mйmoire.
Je vivais mes chansons d'amour, j'avais peur de te perdre un jour
Et j'aimais les bruits de l'йcole en bas dans ta cour.
J'ignorais si c'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
De continuer mon chemin vers le paradis.
Je respirais tout doucement, j'avais peur d'йveiller le temps
Qui dormait dans nos souvenirs, et j'йtais content.
J'ignorais si c'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
De continuer mon chemin vers le paradis.
Je respirais tout doucement, j'avais peur d'йveiller ce temps
Qui dormait dans nos souvenirs, et j'йtais content.
Je rкvais de m'en souvenir depuis si longtemps.
Quand je jouais de la guitare pour te plaire ou pour t'йmouvoir
En hommage au passant d'un soir, j'йcrivais pour l'amour de l'art.
J'ignorais que c'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
De chanter pour que tu sois fiиre de m'avoir choisi.
The lyrics of Yves Duteil's Hommage au passant d'un soir are a nostalgic reflection on the singer's past, the different stages of his life, and the role music has played in it. The first verse describes the singer's younger years, when he used to play guitar in the streets at night, looking for some affection and inspiration for his music. He was unaware of what his life was, but he wanted to sing to lessen his sadness and loneliness. However, one night, a passerby from his past encouraged him with words that have stuck with him ever since.
The second verse talks about another stage of his life when he played guitar on avenue de l'Observatoire. He reminisces about the people who used to gather around him as he played love songs, and the sense of reward he felt when he saw their smiles. He was unaware of what the woman he loved, and who he played for, life was, but he sang to make everything seem better when the skies were grey. This was a beautiful time in his life, where he felt as if playing music brought him closure and a brief moment of bliss.
The third verse is the culmination of his musical journey. He played for the woman he loved, and they shared moments of passion, away from the prying eyes of the world. Everything else in the world seemed trivial, as the love they shared took center stage. He was aware that he might lose her, and so he cherished every moment spent with her, including the sounds of the schoolchildren's laughter from the courtyard below. He dreamed of this moment, of remembering it for a long time to come, and for his love to remember it too.
Overall, Hommage au passant d'un soir is a beautiful tribute to the power of music to inspire, heal, and connect us to our past selves and others. It shows how playing music can transport us to a different time and place, and make memories that last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand je jouais de la guitare, par plaisir ou par dйsespoir
When I played the guitar, whether out of pleasure or despair
Rue Dufour et Rue Vaugirard, j'arrкtais vers onze heures du soir.
I stopped on Dufour and Vaugirard street, around eleven in the evening
Je fouillais mes carnets d'adresses pour trouver deux sous de tendresse
I searched my address books to find a little bit of tenderness
Des amours que le petit jour emportait sans cesse.
Loves that the dawn constantly swept away
J'ignorais ce qu'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
I didn't know what my life was, I didn't know, but I wanted
De chanter pour кtre moins triste et moins seul aussi.
To sing to be less sad and less alone too
Puis un soir, pour m'encourager, un passant, surgi du passй
Then one evening, to encourage me, a passerby emerged from the past
M'avait dit des mots qui depuis ne m'ont plus quittй.
Had said words to me that have never left me since
J'ignorais que dans ton regard, le bonheur йtait provisoire.
I didn't know that in your eyes, happiness was temporary
J'йcrivais des chansons d'amour et chacun s'asseyait autour.
I wrote love songs and everyone would gather around
Des sourires йtaient ma rйcompense et tu souris toujours.
Smiles were my reward, and you always smiled
Tout autour dans nos univers, le printemps virait а l'hiver
All around us, spring turned into winter
Et les jours du calendrier passaient а l'envers.
And the days on the calendar went backwards
Puis j'ai jouй de la guitare sur ton cњur et loin des regards.
Then I played the guitar on your heart, away from prying eyes
Tout le reste йtait dйrisoire, le prйsent perdait la mйmoire.
Everything else was trivial, the present lost its memory
Je vivais mes chansons d'amour, j'avais peur de te perdre un jour
I lived my love songs, afraid of losing you one day
Et j'aimais les bruits de l'йcole en bas dans ta cour.
And I loved the sounds of the school below in your courtyard
Je rкvais de m'en souvenir depuis si longtemps.
I dreamt of remembering it for so long
Je respirais tout doucement, j'avais peur d'йveiller ce temps
I breathed slowly, afraid of awakening that time
Qui dormait dans nos souvenirs, et j'йtais content.
That slept in our memories, and I was happy
Quand je jouais de la guitare pour te plaire ou pour t'йmouvoir
When I played the guitar to please or move you
En hommage au passant d'un soir, j'йcrivais pour l'amour de l'art.
As a tribute to the passerby from one evening, I wrote for the love of art
J'ignorais que c'йtait ma vie, j'ignorais, mais j'avais envie
I didn't know that it was my life, I didn't know, but I wanted
De chanter pour que tu sois fiиre de m'avoir choisi.
To sing so that you would be proud to have chosen me
Contributed by Noah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Amadeus
Yves Duteil, est simplement un prince de la chanson française. ♥♥♥
no.
Il a la meme voix que mon prof de musique🤨