Maman, Maman was the Monegasque entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 in Madrid performed by Jean Jacques, at the time just 12 years old.
The song is a ballad, in which the singer tells his mother about a "marvellous dream" he had in which he has grown up and gone to war. Over the course of the song, however, he realises that he prefers his younger life - and ultimately has a "bad dream" in which his envisions his mother in her old age. He concludes by singing that he wishes to remain a child. Jean Jacques recorded the song in four languages; French, German (as "Mama"), Spanish ("Mamá") and Italian ("Maman").
The song was performed 4th on the night following host country Spain and preceding Ireland. At the close of voting, it finished in 6th place with 11 points.
Lyrics[]
Maman, maman, j’ai fait un rêve merveilleux
Maman, maman, et que j’étais devenu grand
Je marchais au pas, casque, fusil et sac au dos
Dans la lumière d’un matin, le soleil brillait tout là-haut
Il me suivait comme un copain
Maman, maman, j’ai fait un rêve merveilleux
Maman, maman, nous étions partis tous les deux
Sur un grand bateau, tout blanc, flottait pavillon haut
Et moi j’étais le commandant, parti pour les îles du vent
Tu étais fière de moi, maman
Maman, maman, j’ai fait un rêve merveilleux
Mais soudain tout s’arrête de mon rêve d’enfant
Et je vois apparaître la vraie vie des grands
J’ai le temps, j’ai le temps
Maman, maman, j’ai fait un rêve malheureux
Maman, maman, je te voyais les cheveux blancs
Je veux oublier le soldat et le grand bateau
Auprès de toi je veux rester et que Dieu te garde longtemps
Toi, la plus belle des mamans
Maman, maman, je veux rester encore enfant
Garde-moi près de toi, maman
Garde-moi près de toi, maman
Mum, Mum, I had a marvellous dream
Mum, Mum, and I’ve grown up
I marched in step, helmet, rifle and backpack
In the light of a morning, the sun shone high
It followed me like a friend
Mum, Mum, I had a marvellous dream
Mum, Mum, we both left
On a great ship, all white, a flag floating high
And I was the commander, left for the islands of the wind
You were proud of me, Mum
Mum, Mum, I had a marvellous dream
But suddenly my childhood dream stops
And I see appearing the real adult life
I have time, I have time
Mum, Mum, I had a bad dream
Mum, Mum, I saw your white hair
I want to forget the soldier and the big ship
I want to stay near you and may God save you for a long time
You, the most beautiful of all mums
Mum, Mum, I still want to be a child
Hold me close to you, Mum
Hold me close to you, Mum
| Eurovision Song Contest 1969 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Ivan & 4M •  Romuald •  Salomé •  Jean Jacques •  Muriel Day •  Iva Zanicchi •  Lulu •  Lenny Kuhr •  Tommy Körberg •  Louis Neefs •  Paola del Medico •  Kirsti Sparboe •  Siw Malmkvist •  Frida Boccara •  Simone de Oliveira •  Jarkko & Laura
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Pozdrav svijetu • Catherine • Vivo cantando • Maman, Maman • The Wages of Love • Due grosse lacrime bianche • Boom Bang-a-Bang • De troubadour • Judy, min vän • Jennifer Jennings • Bonjour, Bonjour • Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli • Primaballerina • Un jour, un enfant • Desfolhada portuguesa • Kuin silloin ennen
| |||
Videos[]
Eurovision 1969 – Monaco – Jean Jacques – Maman, Maman