Chante une femme

Annotation

Chanson artist born 1932 in Lyon, France, and died 25 March 2007. The song "Chante une femme" ("Sing a Woman") (Philips # 437.400), an interesting protest song, looking at the negative impact of the war from different perspectives, such as an America family, "my only son, sings a woman in America... boy's death in Vietnam", and then onto the Vietnamese, "awakens the Vietnamese child... I hear planes, we must take our luggage". The song also criticised politicians for playing war games, "Mr. President... and the Vietnam map, as a man who is playing checkers".Marc Ogeret – Chansons de révolte et d'espoir (1973) James Ollivier – Récital public (1973)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs

Chanson artist born 1932 in Lyon, France, and died 25 March 2007. The song "Chante une femme" ("Sing a Woman") (Philips # 437.400), an interesting protest song, looking at the negative impact of the war from different perspectives, such as an America family, "my only son, sings a woman in America... boy's death in Vietnam", and then onto the Vietnamese, "awakens the Vietnamese child... I hear planes, we must take our luggage". The song also criticised politicians for playing war games, "Mr. President... and the Vietnam map, as a man who is playing checkers".Covers: Marc Ogeret - Chansons de révolte et d'espoir (1973) James Ollivier - Récital public (1973)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: Sleep my love, my only son" / Sings a woman in America / Sings in America a woman / To her boy who died in Vietnam / A woman sings to her little one: / "Sleep my love, sleep my darling / I will go to the place where you sleep / And rock you there until I die / I'll bring you presents / Your old train and your Meccano set / And the silver-paper star / Sleep my love, sleep my child" / Sings a woman in America / On the other side of the / Pacific / A mother in the early morning / Wakes the Vietnamese child: / "Get up, my son, get up, boy / I hear the planes coming back / We must pick up our bags again / We're going on a little trip / Whatever you do, don't let go of my hand / We're going to run far, far away / You, you carry your grey bird / Me, the blankets and the rice" / In his diplomatic armchair / In Washington, in America / "I have to get my money back" / Declares Mister President / And on the map of Vietnam / Like a man playing draughts / He plans the bombing raids / And the march of the regiments / He puts his finger on a spot / "Run! Don't let go of my hand!" / He has put his finger here / "Sleep, my boy, sleep, my little one" / "Sleep my love, my only son" / Sings a woman in America / Sings in America a woman / To her boy who died in Vietnam __________ French: "Dors mon amour, mon fils unique" / Chante une femme en Amérique / Chante en Amérique une femme / À son garçon mort au Vietnam / Chante une femme à son petit: / "Dors mon amour, dors mon chéri / J'irai…

Notes

Title track (A1) of the 4-track EP (Philips 437.400; RYM dates it February 1968, your 1969 kept). [From Rate Your Music]

About the artist

born 1932 in Lyon, France, and died 25 March 2007

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Anti-War

In collections

European Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years]