It was written by Michaële [fr], Lana and Paul Sebastian.

The song was first performed by Dalida in January during a concert at the Olympia Hall.

The song has a duration of seven minutes and was not suitable for radio rotation, nevertheless it became a big hit, rising to the top of the charts in Europe.

Billboard magazine named Dalida the most popular French singer of 1974 in the world thanks to the recording of this song.

Chilean general Augusto Pinochet reportedly used this song alongside physical torture on his prisoners.