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.
Les bonheurs perdus
Yves Duteil Lyrics
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Il y aurait des nuages, il y aurait des nuages.
Si les bonheurs perdus s'envolaient en fumйe
Il y aurait des nuages en plein cњur de l'йtй.
Mais si toi, mon amour, tu devais t'en aller
Il me pleuvrait'si fort que j'en mourrais noyй.
Et si notre bonheur s'envolait en fumйe
Il y aurait un nuage autour du monde entier.
The lyrics of Yves Duteil's song "Les bonheurs perdus" describe the potential aftermath of lost happiness. The opening lines suggest that if lost happiness were to disappear like smoke, it would create clouds in the sky. The image of clouds communicates the lingering presence of what was once there, but is now gone. The repetition of the line "Il y aurait des nuages" emphasizes the weight of the loss and its effects. Moreover, the image of clouds suggests both a barrier and a possible path towards redemption as clouds can either block out the sun or bring much-needed rain.
The song takes a more personal turn in the following lines as the singer suggests that if his love were to leave him, he would drown in his own tears. The use of "tu devais t'en aller" (if you were to leave) shows that the loss of his love is not a current reality but a hypothetical. However, his reaction to this hypothetical loss is visceral, showing the depth of his love and the pain that the possibility of losing it would cause. The final lines return to the opening image of lost happiness and suggest that if their happiness were to disappear, it would be felt all around the world, emphasizing the enormity of their love and its impact.
Overall, the song communicates the fragility of happiness and the pain that comes with its loss. It highlights the importance of love in giving meaning to life and the devastation that comes when that love is threatened.
Line by Line Meaning
Si les bonheurs perdus s'envolaient en fumйe
If the lost joys were to vanish into smoke
Il y aurait des nuages, il y aurait des nuages.
There would be clouds, there would be clouds.
Si les bonheurs perdus s'envolaient en fumйe
If the lost joys were to vanish into smoke
Il y aurait des nuages en plein cњur de l'йtй.
There would be clouds in the middle of summer.
Mais si toi, mon amour, tu devais t'en aller
But if you, my love, were to leave,
Il me pleuvrait'si fort que j'en mourrais noyй.
It would rain so heavily on me that I would drown.
Et si notre bonheur s'envolait en fumйe
And if our happiness were to vanish into smoke
Il y aurait un nuage autour du monde entier.
There would be a cloud around the whole world.
Contributed by Ellie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.