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.
John
Yves Duteil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il avait un air si bizarre et veillait si tard.
Il buvait tant de vin que souvent, le matin
On pouvait l'entendre de l'йtang jusqu'au moulin.
La fille aux longues mains ne disait jamais rien
Et le pauvre John pensait bien
Qu'а veiller dehors jusqu'au lever du jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour.
John avait un bйguin, зa se voyait un brin.
Quand il tapait sur sa poitrine en buvant du gin
Il avait l'oeil hagard, buvait toujours а part
Poussait des hurlements qui faisaient fuir le vent.
Mais la fille aux longues mains ne disait jamais rien
Et le pauvre John pensait bien
Qu'а veiller dehors jusqu'au lever du jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour.
John йtait amoureux, il en a fait l'aveu.
Depuis, de la riviиre au port, on en rit encore.
Le soir, au coin du feu, on йcoute les vieux
Raconter l'histoire de John l'amoureux.
Il aimait la statue d'une belle inconnue
Morte cent ans auparavant dans un ouragan.
Il allait tous les jours lui dire son amour
Et noyait sa peine dans un verre а son retour.
La fille aux longues mains ne dirait jamais rien
Et le pauvre John savait bien
Que dans la statue йtait son coeur et qu'un jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour
Que dans la statue йtait son coeur et qu'un jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour.
The song "John" by Yves Duteil tells the story of a man named John, who is deeply in love with a woman with long hands. He is so consumed by his love that he drinks heavily and stays up late, fearing that if he goes to sleep, he may never see her again. However, the woman never speaks to him or reciprocates his love, causing John's obsession to spiral into madness.
In the second verse, John's love becomes even more intense, as he begins to believe that a statue of a beautiful woman who died in a hurricane represents his lost love. He visits the statue every day to profess his love, drowning his sorrows in alcohol upon his return home. The story ends tragically, as John knows in his heart that he will eventually die from the unrequited love that consumes him.
This poignant song explores the destructive nature of obsession and unrequited love, and the toll it can take on a person's mental health. The haunting melody and thoughtful lyrics make it a timeless classic, memorable for its powerful message and beautiful composition.
Line by Line Meaning
John йtait amoureux, зa se voyait un peu.
John was in love, it was easy to see.
Il avait un air si bizarre et veillait si tard.
He had such a strange air and stayed up so late.
Il buvait tant de vin que souvent, le matin
On pouvait l'entendre de l'йtang jusqu'au moulin.
He drank so much wine that often in the morning, he could be heard from the pond to the mill.
La fille aux longues mains ne disait jamais rien
Et le pauvre John pensait bien
Qu'а veiller dehors jusqu'au lever du jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour.
The girl with the long hands never said anything
And poor John thought well
That by staying outside until daybreak
He would die either of cold or of love.
John avait un bйguin, зa se voyait un brin.
Quand il tapait sur sa poitrine en buvant du gin
Il avait l'oeil hagard, buvait toujours а part
Poussait des hurlements qui faisaient fuir le vent.
John had a crush, it was slightly apparent.
When he pounded his chest while drinking gin
He had a wild look in his eye, always drank alone
And let out screams that scared away the wind.
John йtait amoureux, il en a fait l'aveu.
Depuis, de la riviиre au port, on en rit encore.
Le soir, au coin du feu, on йcoute les vieux
Raconter l'histoire de John l'amoureux.
John was in love, he admitted it.
Since then, from the river to the port, people still laugh about it.
In the evening, by the fire, the old folks listen
As they tell the story of John the lover.
Il aimait la statue d'une belle inconnue
Morte cent ans auparavant dans un ouragan.
Il allait tous les jours lui dire son amour
Et noyait sa peine dans un verre а son retour.
He loved a statue of a beautiful, unknown woman
Who had died a hundred years prior in a hurricane.
He would go every day to tell her of his love
And drown his sorrows in a glass upon his return.
La fille aux longues mains ne dirait jamais rien
Et le pauvre John savait bien
Que dans la statue йtait son coeur et qu'un jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour
Que dans la statue йtait son coeur et qu'un jour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour
Il en crиverait ou bien de froid ou bien d'amour.
The girl with the long hands never said anything
And poor John knew well
That in the statue was his heart and that one day
He would die either of cold or of love
That in the statue was his heart and that one day
He would die either of cold or of love
That he would die either of cold or of love.
Contributed by Alex B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.