The Beatles – ‘Michelle’

Talk about ‘Words That Go Together Well’!

‘Michelle’ by The Beatles is different from the rest of The Beatles’ catalog in that it’s the only song to be sung partially in French. French bohemian culture was all the rage when The Beatles’ Rubber Soul was being recorded and released, and though none of The Beatles actually spoke French, they sure did a fantastic job convincing us!

‘Michelle’ isn’t written about a particular woman; John and Paul literally chose it because it rhymed with ma belle, and the French phrase “Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble” was taught to them by a friend’s wife – a French teacher.

Clearly, it worked: ‘Michelle’ went to #1 in France when it was released in 1965, and won a Grammy in 1966 for Song of the Year, one of just four Grammys The Beatles won while they were still active.

The song only took a total of 9 hours to write and record once John and Paul had a French translation that rhymed, and The Beatles constructed the melody around the words Michelle, ma belle.

+ Michelle lyrics +

Michelle, ma belle
These are words that go together well
My Michelle

Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble

I love you, I love you, I love you
That’s all I want to say
Until I find a way
I will say the only words I know that
You’ll understand

Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble

I need to, I need to, I need to
I need to make you see
Oh, what you mean to me
Until I do I’m hoping you will
Know what I mean

I love you

I want you, I want you, I want you
I think you know by now
I’ll get to you somehow
Until I do I’m telling you so
You’ll understand

Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble

I will say the only words I know
That you’ll understand, my Michelle