Georges Brassens was a French singer and songwriter known for accompanying … Read Full Bio ↴Georges Brassens was a French singer and songwriter known for accompanying himself with his acoustic guitar. He wrote some extremely controversial, yet poetic songs. In doing so, he managed to change attitudes across France.

He was uncompromising when composing his songs. His tactical method of addressing issues was profound and often humorous, making him a unique and effective figure in the French community.

Brassens, born in 1921 in the small Mediterrenean port of Sete, wanted to be a poet. He realized very early however that poetry in the 20th century could hardly put bread on the table and instead set himself to become a singer.

He is much less famous internationally than contemporaries like Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf and Yves Montand, as much of the impact of his songs came from the lyrics, which proved difficult to translate into other languages. He loved the Middle Ages and used a great deal of Old French vocabulary, as well as many classical - ie., Latin and Greek - references. Few people, even in France, possess the background to fully understand his songs.

Yet he was at the same time a hugely popular singer and many of his songs still carry a lot of appeal and relevance. In this sense, he can be compared to Boris Vian, to Jacques Brel, and to a lesser extent to Serge Gainsbourg.

He was very sophisticated, yet at the same time used profanity liberally. While he wasn't politically engaged, he was nevertheless unambiguously a leftist, many of his songs carrying blatant and buoyant anarchist overtones.

While his music was initially quite primitive, the 1950's St-Germain-des-Pres influence quickly made itself felt and while subdued and - in his mind - always secondary to the lyrics, it became increasingly sophisticated - to the point that many of his songs have been covered and reinterpretated by jazzmen (see for instance this UK site: www.projetbrassens.eclipse.co.uk)

He died in 1981, but up to this date (2006) there are few French people - including most of those born since - who can't sing along to his most famous song, Les Copains d'abord ("Friends foremost") or his "Bancs public" ("Public Benches").

For those interested, this site carries a number of (quite good) English tranlations of his songs: www.brassens.org

Avoir un bon copain
Georges Brassens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

C'est le printemps
On a vingt ans
Le cœur et le moteur
Battent gaiement
Droit devant nous
Sans savoir où
Nous filons comme des fous
Car aujourd'hui

Tout nous sourit
Dans une auto
On est bien entre amis
Aussi chantons
Sur tous les tons
Notre plaisir d'être garçon !

{Refrain:}
Avoir un bon copain
Voilà c'qui y a d'meilleur au monde
Oui, car, un bon copain
C'est plus fidèle qu'une blonde
Unis main dans la main
A chaque seconde
On rit de ses chagrins
Quand on possède un bon copain

Les aveux,
Des amoureux
Avouons-le maintenant
C'est vieux jeu
C'est plus charmant
Qu'des longs serments
Qui n'sont que des boniments
Loin des baisers
Pour se griser
Sur une route
Il suffit de gazer
Le grand amour
Ça dure un jour
L'amitié dure toujours.

{Refrain}

... On rit de ses chagrins
Quand on possède un bon copain

Overall Meaning

The song "Avoir un bon copain" by Georges Brassens celebrates the joys of youth and friendship. Brassens starts by setting the scene in the springtime, where everything is fresh, young, and vibrant. He notes that at this age, he and his friends have a lust for life and are going full speed ahead, even though they do not know where they are going.

Brassens then turns his attention to the value of friendship, which he states is better than having a girlfriend. He speaks of the loyalty and devotion of a friend, who will always have your back, and how laughter and camaraderie can help ease the pain of heartbreak and disappointments. Brassens concludes that while love may be fleeting, true friendship lasts forever.

Line by Line Meaning

C'est le printemps
The beginning, a fresh start.

On a vingt ans
The age when life seems full of possibilities and the future is ahead of us.

Le cœur et le moteur Battent gaiement
Full of energy and excitement; ready to take on the world.

Droit devant nous Sans savoir où Nous filons comme des fous
We’re moving forward with fervor and passion, without any clear direction. We’re free and living for the moment.

Car aujourd'hui Tout nous sourit
Everything is going well and we're enjoying the present moment.

Dans une auto On est bien entre amis
We feel comfortable and content with our friends while driving.

Aussi chantons Sur tous les tons Notre plaisir d'être garçon !
We celebrate our joy of being young and free with our best friends through singing and laughter.

{Refrain:} Avoir un bon copain Voilà c'qui y a d'meilleur au monde Oui, car, un bon copain C'est plus fidèle qu'une blonde Unis main dans la main A chaque seconde On rit de ses chagrins Quand on possède un bon copain
The best thing in the world is having a great male friend. A good male friend is more faithful than a girlfriend. We stick together through thick and thin, always support each other, laugh together, and cry together. It’s a bond that lasts forever.

Les aveux, Des amoureux
Lovers' confessions.

Avouons-le maintenant C'est vieux jeu
Admitting love for someone is passe.

C'est plus charmant Qu'des longs serments Qui n'sont que des boniments
Having a good friend is more charming than long-term pledges that are lies.

Loin des baisers Pour se griser Sur une route Il suffit de gazer
Having fun with friends doesn’t always mean physical affection. Cruising around with your friends is enough to make you feel exhilarated.

Le grand amour Ça dure un jour L'amitié dure toujours.
True love may last only one day, while friendship lasts forever.

Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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