Chanter pour ceux qui sont loin de chez eux (Sing For Those Who are Far From Home), 1985, Différences
During the 1980s and until 1993, France reformed its immigration laws on 8 separate occasions to stem the growing influx of immigrants from its former colonies. Interior Minister Charles Pasqua championed laws to reverse France’s traditional post-revolutionary policy of support for universalist principles of human rights and specifically its welcome for disadvantaged foreigners.
The Pasqua laws generated resistance in some quarters because of their severe provisions. This was not a surprising response among musicians, given the historic association between immigration and French arts including “chanson.” Historically, a significant percentage of French "chanson" artists have had immigrant origins.
Michel Berger wrote the song in 1985 and it appeared on his album Différences and as a single the following year. The song’s message is empathy with immigrants who are far from home and experience loneliness, sadness, separation, and loss of identity. Berger had a strong humanitarian streak and at that time participated in a number of ventures like “Action Écoles,” “Chanteurs Sans Frontières,” and “Les Restos du cœur.” In 1998, French singer Lââm (Lamia Naoui) launched her career with a successful cover of the song.
It is a fast-moving song with 12 stanzas: VVBCCVVBCCCC. Verses and Bridges are each 4 lines and choruses are 5 lines. Two verses are followed by a Bridge and then by 2 Choruses; then again 2 Verses, a Bridge and 2 Choruses; ending with 2 Chorus-like stanzas. Each chorus begins with the song’s full title. The choruses differ somewhat in their lyrics but share an AAABB rhyming scheme.
The Pasqua laws generated resistance in some quarters because of their severe provisions. This was not a surprising response among musicians, given the historic association between immigration and French arts including “chanson.” Historically, a significant percentage of French "chanson" artists have had immigrant origins.
Michel Berger wrote the song in 1985 and it appeared on his album Différences and as a single the following year. The song’s message is empathy with immigrants who are far from home and experience loneliness, sadness, separation, and loss of identity. Berger had a strong humanitarian streak and at that time participated in a number of ventures like “Action Écoles,” “Chanteurs Sans Frontières,” and “Les Restos du cœur.” In 1998, French singer Lââm (Lamia Naoui) launched her career with a successful cover of the song.
It is a fast-moving song with 12 stanzas: VVBCCVVBCCCC. Verses and Bridges are each 4 lines and choruses are 5 lines. Two verses are followed by a Bridge and then by 2 Choruses; then again 2 Verses, a Bridge and 2 Choruses; ending with 2 Chorus-like stanzas. Each chorus begins with the song’s full title. The choruses differ somewhat in their lyrics but share an AAABB rhyming scheme.
|
Celui-là passe toute la nuit A regarder les étoiles En pensant qu'au bout du monde Y'a quelqu'un qui pense à lui Et cette petite fille qui joue Qui ne veut plus jamais sourire Et qui voit son père partout Qui s'est construit un empire Où qu'ils aillent Ils sont tristes à la fête Où qu'ils aillent Ils sont seuls dans leur tête Je veux chanter pour ceux Qui sont loin de chez eux Et qui ont dans leurs yeux Quelque chose qui fait mal Qui fait mal Je veux chanter pour ceux Qu'on oublie peu à peu Et qui gardent au fond d'eux Quelque chose qui fait mal Qui fait mal Qui a volé leur histoire Qui a volé leur mémoire Qui a piétiné leur vie Comme on marche sur un miroir Celui-là voudra des bombes Celui-là comptera les jours En alignant des bâtons Comme les barreaux d'une prison Où qu'ils aillent Ils sont tristes à la fête Où qu'ils aillent Ils sont seuls dans leur tête Je veux chanter pour ceux Qui sont loin de chez eux Et qui ont dans leurs yeux Quelque chose qui fait mal Qui fait mal Je veux chanter pour ceux Qu'on oublie peu à peu Et qui gardent au fond d'eux Quelque chose qui fait mal Qui fait mal Chanter pour ceux Qui sont loin de chez eux Et qui ont dans leurs yeux Quelque chose qui fait mal Qui fait mal Quand je pense à eux Ça fait mal, ça fait mal Quand je pense à eux Ça fait mal Ça fait mal |
This one spends all night Looking up at the stars Thinking that at the end of the world There is someone who thinks of him And that little girl who plays Who no longer wants to smile And who sees her father everywhere Who built herself an empire Wherever they go They are sad at parties Wherever they go They are alone in their head I want to sing for those Who are far from home And who have in their eyes Something that hurts That hurts I want to sing for those Whom we forget bit by bit And who keep deep inside Something that hurts That hurts Who stole their story Who stole their memory Who trampled their life Like we step on a mirror This one will want bombs This one will count the days By aligning wood sticks Like the bars of a prison Wherever they go They are sad at parties Wherever they go They are alone in their head I want to sing for those Who are far from home And who have in their eyes Something that hurts That hurts I want to sing for those Whom we forget bit by bit And who keep deep inside Something that hurts That hurts Sing for those Who are far from home And who have, in their eyes Something that hurts That hurts When I think of them It hurts, it hurts When I think of them It hurts it hurts |
NB:
Qui a piétiné leur vie comme on marche sur un miroir: this is a strong image of lives and identities being shattered like a broken mirror so they can’t even see who they are.
Qui a piétiné leur vie comme on marche sur un miroir: this is a strong image of lives and identities being shattered like a broken mirror so they can’t even see who they are.
Return to Berger Profile