Place des Grands Hommes (Place of Great Men), 1989
La Panthéon
The title of this song (“Place des grands hommes”) alludes indirectly to a well-known physical location in Paris--the “Place de la Panthéon” in the Latin Quarter. This “place” (square) fronts the Panthéon, a massive structure which houses the tombs of more than 70 illustrious French writers, scientists, generals, politicians and churchmen (the “grands hommes”). Until 1995, it accommodated only men. The song appeared in 1989 on the album Alors regarde and again as a single in 1991. It is an especially evocative piece that celebrates a segment of the city of Paris and a time in the lives of many youth that have warm associations, while the melody, song structure, and lyrics carry the story. The video clip provides texture by director/actor Élie Chouraqui, Bruel's friend and collaborator who shares his Jewish Algerian origin.
Bruel and his friend Bruno Garcin (an actor and lyricist) wrote the song in just a few hours, with music by Bruel and lyrics by Garcin. It was written for and performed on a TV show on May 14, 1989 to celebrate Bruel’s 30th birthday. TV host Patrick Sabatier (“Avis de Recherche”) had asked Bruel to develop a song about his time attending lycée. Sabatier’s show specialized in re-uniting celebrities with old friends, most commonly lycée comrades. A tape of that show can be seen here. Patrick Bruel had attended the famous Lycée Henri Quatre (one of the most prestigious in France). This public secondary school is located in the former royal Abbaye de Saint Genevieve around the corner from the Sorbonne and the Panthéon in Paris’ 5th arrondissement. It has a long list of prominent alumni and professors. Sabatier’s request in 1989 prompted Bruel’s recollection of the commitment made 10 years before with lycée copains (friends) to meet again: same time, same spot, same friends. Presumably, many of these companions also attended the TV show.
The Panthéon and Quartier Latin
The song commemorates a vow by old lycée friends to meet again on the same spot, at the same time, 10 years after the conclusion of their baccalauréat exams. The French “bac” is not merely a “rite de passage,” but a national diploma confirming the completion of secondary studies and permitting entrance to universities. The song’s narrator imagines this imminent reunion and fantasizes the encounters and feelings it might bring. These include likely surprises at life changes of success and failure. He wonders how many will attend, what they have done, and whether he should go or not. He is reluctant to arrive early and wanders about the “quartier,” thinking about his past and the fate of old acquaintances and old loves, but eventually decides to participate.
The song raises issues that confront many people when facing the prospect of a reunion with former close companions after many years. These concerns arise from anxiety at wondering: What will they think of me? What have they done? What have I accomplished? How do I compare? What is next? Reunions evoke the reliability of memory, the passage of time, measures of success, reality versus expectations, and often disappointment. For Americans of a certain age, the tempo and message of the song resonate with echoes of the 1985 coming-of-age “Brat Pack” film and song “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
The song appeared in 1990 on the album Alors regard and was released as a single, peaking in 1991 at number 4 on French charts where it lasted 11 weeks in the top ten. The song begins with a 4-line refrain that repeats 4 times, alternating with 3 longer verses, with a bridge before the last verse and finally an outro. There is straightforward end-of-line rhyming throughout.
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Refrain On s'était dit rendez-vous dans dix ans Même jour, même heure, mêmes pommes On verra quand on aura trente ans Sur les marches d'la place des grands hommes Verse 1 Le jour est v'nu et moi aussi Mais j'veux pas être le premier Si on n'avait plus rien à se dire et si et si J’fais des detours dans le quartier C’est fou c’qu’un crepuscule de printemps Rappelle le même crepuscule d’ya dix ans Trottoirs usés par les regards baissés Qu'est-ce-que j'ai fait de ces années? J'ai pas flotté tranquille sur l'eau J'ai pas nagé le vent dans l'dos Dernière ligne droite, la rue Soufflot Combien s'ront là? Quatre, trois, deux, un, zero? Refrain On s'était dit rendez-vous dans dix ans Même jour, même heure, mêmes pommes On verra quand on aura trente ans Sur les marches d'la place des grands hommes Verse 2 J'avais eu si souvent envie d'elle La belle Séverine me regardera-t-elle? Éric voulait explorer l'subconscient R'monte-t-il à la surface de temps en temps? J'ai un peu peur de traverser l'miroir Si j'y allais pas, j'me serais trompé d'un soir Devant une vitrine d'antiquités J'imagine les retrouvailles de l'amitié T'as pas changé, qu'est-ce tu deviens? Tu t'es mariée, t'as trois gamins T'as réussi, tu fais médecin ? Et toi Pascale, tu t'marres toujours pour rien? Allez Refrain On s'était dit rendez-vous dans dix ans Même jour, même heure, mêmes pommes On verra quand on aura trente ans Sur les marches d'la place des grands hommes Verse 3 J'ai connu des marées hautes et des marées basses Comme vous, comme vous, comme vous J'ai rencontré des tempêtes et des bourrasques Comme vous, comme vous, comme vous Chaque amour morte à une nouvelle a fait place Et vous, et vous, et vous? Et toi Marco qui ambitionnait simplement D'être heureux dans la vie As-tu réussi ton pari? Et toi François, et toi Laurence, et toi Marion Et toi Gégé, et toi Bruno, et toi Évelyne Et bien, c'est formidable, les copains On s'est tout dit, on s'serre la main! On ne peut pas mettre dix ans sur table Comme on étale ses lettres au Scrabble Bridge Dans la vitrine, je vois l'reflet D'une lycéenne derrière moi Si elle part à gauche, je la suivrai Si c'est à droite, attendez-moi! Attendez-moi, attendez-moi, attendez-moi! Refrain On s'était dit rendez-vous dans dix ans Même jour, même heure, mêmes pommes On verra quand on aura trente ans Si on est d'venus des grands hommes Des grands hommes, des grands hommes Outro Tiens, si on s' donnait rendez-vous dans dix ans ? |
Refrain We told each other: meet again in ten years Same day, same time, same guys We'll see when we're thirty On the steps of the place of great men Verse 1 The day has come and so have I But I don't want to be first If we had nothing more to say, what if and whether I take detours in the neighborhood It's crazy how a spring twilight Recalls the same twilight ten years ago Sidewalks worn by lowered gazes What have I done with these years? I didn't float peacefully on the water I didn't swim with the wind at my back Final stretch, Rue Soufflot How many will be there ? Four, three, two, one, none? Refrain We told each other: meet again in ten years Same day, same time, same guys We'll see when we're thirty On the steps of the place of great men Verse 2 I had so often wanted her Will beautiful Séverine look at me? Eric wanted to explore the subconscious Does he resurface from time to time? I'm a little afraid to peer through the mirror If I didn't go, I would have been wrong one night Before an antique shop window I imagine the renewal of friendships "You haven't changed, what have you been up to?" You married, you have three kids You succeeded, are you a doctor? And you Pascale, do you still laugh for no reason?" Go on Refrain We told each other: meet again in ten years Same day, same time, same guys We'll see when we're thirty On the steps of the place of great men Verse 3 I've known high tides and low tides Like you, like you, like you I've encountered storms and squalls Like you, like you, like you Each dead love has made room for a new one And you, and you... and you? And you Marco who simply wanted To be happy in life Have you won your bet? And you François, and you Laurence, and you Marion And you Gégé... and you Bruno, and you Évelyne? Well, it's great, friends! We've said it all, we shake hands! We can't put ten years on the table Like spreading Scrabble letters Bridge In the shop window I see the reflection Of a high school girl behind me If she goes left, I'll follow her If it's right... Wait for me! Wait for me! Wait for me! Wait for me! Refrain We told each other: meet in ten years Same day, same time, same guys We'll see when we're thirty If we've become great men Great men... great men Outro Hey, what if we get together in ten years? |
- “mêmes pommes:” the word “pommes” means apples, but in this context it is slang for “guys,” “people.”
- “et si et si:” this exNB:pression that means something like “this and that.”
- “derniere ligne droite:” means the “last straight line,” or the home stretch, the final stretch before the finish line.
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