"Oncle Pierre" was released as a single on February 10th. Here is the story of Oncle Pierre and the English translation of the French lyrics:
Oncle Pierre
Marinette, 1969 & 2022
Au revoir Oncle Pierre,
ta porte s’est refermée
Il était tellement doux, ton grand nid poussiéreux Ta main brune était large pour dire à l’invité
Que tu partageais tout,
ton pain et ton bon feu
Et puis ta bicyclette,
trente-cinq mille kilomètres
Elle est morte elle aussi, sous la roue ravageuse Je pense à tes beaux livres, à tes vieilles lunettes Ta soupe aux champignons qui était si fameuse
Finis tous tes voyages,
récits et pantomimes
Tes galoches boueuses font grises mines
Ton horloge monotone ne compte plus les heures Au revoir Oncle Pierre, au revoir
Au revoir Oncle Pierre,
j’ai bien aimé ton gîte
Ta soupe et ta poussière,
ton fouillis et ta voix
Tes lunettes sont aveugles,
plus rien dans ta marmite
Mais je ne t’oublie pas, je pense ce soir à toi
Je marche à petits pas
comme l’enfant que j’étais
Qui attendait souvent que chez toi tu l’invites
Je marche à petits pas
comme l’enfant que j’étais
On passera plus tard chanter devant ton gîte Finis tous tes voyages,
récits et pantomimes
Au revoir Oncle Pierre, au revoir
For this translation it has not been our aim to re- capture the rhyme of the original French lyrics. They have been made to capture the heart of the words to these songs and the images and memories they evoke.
- Julien Oomen & Marinette Oomen-Myin, February 2023
LINER NOTES
“Oncle Pierre" celebrates the humble life of a man known as the ‘village fool’ in Meuilley, Burgundy France, where my mother grew up.
She wrote the lyrics to this song in 1969 when she was 20 years old.
The song is part of my new album “Les Cahiers de Marinette”, which I will be releasing in April.
This intergenerational songbook first came alive when I asked my mother Marinette about the texts she wrote in her early twenties.
Before writing music to it, I asked my mother to revisit these topics, fifty years later, thus grasping a half century time lapse of perspective.
The last part of the lyrics to “Oncle Pierre” was written in November 2022.
Oncle Pierre avoided the adults of the village who despised him, but the kids all loved him.
He shared everything he had, especially with children and strangers.
The song serves as a reminder that some of the people that appear quirky, and have a solitary inclination, often have big gifts to share, with personalities that do not ask for praise, welcoming your presence whoever you are.
Uncle Pierre
Goodbye uncle Pierre,
your door is now closed
It was so gentle, your big and dusty home
Your brown hand was large, as if to tell your guest that you shared everything,
your bread and your fire
And of course your bicycle,
thirty-five thousand kilometres,
She died too, under the devastating wheel
I think of your beautiful books,
your old glasses,
your famous mushroom soup
Done are your travels,
your stories and pantomimes
Your muddy clogs look sad and grey
Your monotonous clock no longer counts the hours Goodbye uncle Pierre, goodbye
Goodbye uncle Pierre,
how I loved your abode
Your soup and your dust,
your mess and your voice
Your glasses went blind,
nothing left in your pot
But I will not forget, tonight I think of you
I walk with small steps
Like the child that I was
Who often longed to be invited at your place
I walk with small steps
Like the child that I was
We’ll come by later to sing in front of your door Done are your travels,
your stories and pantomimes
Goodbye uncle Pierre, goodbye
"Oncle Pierre"
Music by Julien Oomen
Words by Marinette Oomen-Myin
Vocals, cuatro, bass, saxophone - Julien Oomen
Drums - Fabio Galeazzi
Mix - Skiggy Rap & Julien Oomen
Artwork - Larisa Wiegant
Discussing the new album with Dennis Tardan (US) in his podcast Reasonably Spontaneous Conversation
Live performance of "Mon papa" with Lenneke van Staalen (Indian violin)
In the Clay Boykin podcast. Skip to 06'00 - 26'00 for Les Cahiers de Marinette