- "Ces gens-là" is a song written and performed by Jacques Brel, produced by Barclay, and published in 1965 by Pouchenel in Brussels.
- The song is about the despair of an impossible love. It is a very dark song, in the form of an invective, with corrosive lyrics, and a slow and repetitive 3 beat melody.
- The narrator takes a third party as witness (a certain "Monsieur") and describes the different members of a family, whose existence is particularly mediocre and petty. He particularly criticizes their immobility (which contrasts with the movement that he creates by moving them away from him).
- This song takes up Brel's principle of progressive truth, which can be found in several of his works, such as "Les Bourgeois", "Mathilde", or "Regarde bien petit". Indeed, the enumeration ends with the girl, the beautiful Frida, whom he loves madly, and whose love is reciprocated, but whose family does not allow the marriage, considering that the suitor is not worthy, which may ultimately explain his hostility towards them.
- This subjectivity of the narrator, which could bias his judgment, was confirmed by Brel, who called him a "false witness" in an interview with Dominique Arban, without, however, rejecting the accuracy of his criticism of the petty bourgeoisie.
- The song ends with the resignation of the narrator who, clearly not fooled by Frida's promise to "leave" to "follow" him, takes leave of his interlocutor and announces that he must return home.
- Vocally, the performance begins moderately but gradually builds to an explosion when the narrator speaks of Frida, expressing his passion for her, which contrasts with the phase of resignation that follows and on which the song ends.
- According to his accordionist Jean Corti, Brel was probably inspired by a real family to describe the characters in this song.
- This song was popularized in France by Georges Brassens' interpretation, especially during his concerts at the Olympia in 1965 and 1966.
- The song has also been covered, among others, by Jacques Higelin.
