Teacher, host, writer of nearly
400 songs, composer, singer, storyteller,
poet and editor, part-time actor, he
also did some television writing
Militant sovereigntist, he
took part in nationalist rallies and
wrote the song Gens du pays in the 1970s
Recognized on both the Quebec
and European scene, he was honoured
with the Ordre National du Québec
as well as the Légion d'honneur
de la France
On St-Jean-Baptiste Day in 1975, Gilles Vigneault
sang Gens du Pays on Montreal's Mount Royal for
the very first time in public.
The song is the unofficial anthem of Quebec. The
chorus sings "people of the country, it is
your turn to let you speak of love.”
Gilles Vigneault played an active role in the
Yes campaign in the 1980 referendum on sovereignty.
Former premier and by far the most popular sovereigntist
in Quebec history René Lévesque
used Vigneault ‘s song to console a huge
crowd after having lost the 1980 referendum. The
defeated sovereigntists chanted with emotion the
song that Lévesque called "the most
beautiful Québécoise song in
the minds of all Quebecers."
In 1990, Vigneault released a six-disc set of
his top 101 songs released over 30 years. In 2001,
he wrapped up the musical show Voyagements in
Montreal. The show was a look back at his long
career both in Quebec and abroad.
Gens
du pays
Le temps que l'on
prend pour se dire: je t'aime
C'est le seul qui reste au bout
de nos jours
Les voeux que l'on fait les fleurs
que l'on seme
Chacun les récolte en soi-même
Aux beaux jardin du temps qui court
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Le temps de s'aimer, le jour de
le dire
Fond comme la neige aux doigts du
printemps
Fêtons de nos joies, fêtons
de nos rires
Ces yeux ou nos regards se mirent
C'est demain que j'avais vingt ans
Le ruisseau des jours aujourd'hui
s'arrête
Et forme un étang ou chacun
peut voir
Comme en un miroir l'amour qu'il
reflète
Pour ces coeurs a qui je souhaite
Le temps de vivre leurs espoirs
