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
Carcassonne
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'ai travaillé toute ma vie
Sans avoir, depuis tout ce temps
Pu satisfaire mon envie
Je vois bien qu'il n'est ici-bas
Le bonheur complet pour personne
Mon vœu ne s'accomplira pas
Je n'ai jamais vu Carcassonne
On dit qu'on y voit tous les jours
Ni plus ni moins que les dimanches
Des gens s'en aller sur le cours
En habits neufs, en robes blanches
On dit qu'on y voit des châteaux
Grands comme ceux de Babylone
Un évêque et deux généraux
Je ne connais pas Carcassonne
Le vicaire a cent fois raison
C'est des ambitieux que nous sommes
Il disait dans son oraison
Que l'ambition perd les hommes
Si je pouvais trouver pourtant
Deux jours sur la fin de l'automne
Mon Dieu, que je mourrais content
Après avoir vu Carcassonne
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, pardonnez-moi
Si ma prière vous offense
On voit toujours plus haut que soi
En vieillesse comme en enfance
Ma femme, avec mon fils Aignan
A voyagé jusqu'à Narbonne
Mon filleul a vu Perpignan
Et je n'ai pas vu Carcassonne
Ainsi chantait, près de Limoux
Un paysan courbé par l'âge
Je lui dis ami, levez-vous
Nous allons faire le voyage
Nous partîmes le lendemain
Mais que le bon Dieu lui pardonne
Il mourut à moitié chemin
Il n'a jamais vu Carcassonne
The song Carcassonne by Georges Brassens is about the regrets and unfulfilled dreams of an aging man who has worked hard all his life but never had the chance to see the beautiful city of Carcassonne. The singer laments that happiness is impossible to achieve in this world and that even his deepest desire will remain unfulfilled. He has heard of the city's beauty and wonders, including grand castles and even an bishop and generals, but he has never seen them for himself. The singer recognizes that ambition can be a dangerous thing, but he cannot help longing to see Carcassonne before he dies. He knows that even his wife and family have traveled and seen other places, but he has never had the chance to see the city he desires most. The song ends with the tragic story of a friend who died before he ever had the chance to see Carcassonne, highlighting how finite and precious life is.
Line by Line Meaning
Je me fais vieux, j'ai soixante ans
As I grow older and reach my sixtieth year, I reflect on my life and feel regret about things I have not accomplished.
J'ai travaillé toute ma vie
I have worked tirelessly for my entire life, but I have not been able to fulfill my desires.
Sans avoir, depuis tout ce temps
Despite spending so much time and effort, I have not achieved my ultimate goal.
Pu satisfaire mon envie
I have been unable to satisfy my longing and craving for something I have always wanted.
Je vois bien qu'il n'est ici-bas
It is apparent to me that there is no complete happiness to be found in this world.
Le bonheur complet pour personne
No one can find true happiness that is absolute and perfect.
Mon vœu ne s'accomplira pas
My wish will never come to fruition.
Je n'ai jamais vu Carcassonne
I have never been to Carcassonne and experienced its beauty.
On dit qu'on y voit tous les jours
It is rumored that there are daily sightings of wondrous things in Carcassonne.
Ni plus ni moins que les dimanches
These sights are as frequent as Sundays, no more and no less.
Des gens s'en aller sur le cours
People are seen strolling through the streets.
En habits neufs, en robes blanches
They are dressed in new clothes and white gowns.
On dit qu'on y voit des châteaux
There are reports of grand castles, rivaling those of Babylone.
Grands comme ceux de Babylone
These castles are as impressive as the legendary wonders of Babylone.
Un évêque et deux généraux
Notable figures such as a bishop and two generals have also been claimed to have been seen there.
Je ne connais pas Carcassonne
Sadly, I have no personal knowledge of Carcassonne.
Le vicaire a cent fois raison
The priest is right a hundred times over.
C'est des ambitieux que nous sommes
We are all ambitious in nature.
Il disait dans son oraison
He preached during his sermon.
Que l'ambition perd les hommes
He warned against the dangers of ambition, as it can lead to one's downfall.
Si je pouvais trouver pourtant
Still, if I could only have just two days in late autumn.
Deux jours sur la fin de l'automne
Just two days before the end of autumn.
Mon Dieu, que je mourrais content
I would die content and fulfilled.
Après avoir vu Carcassonne
If only I could experience the grandeur of Carcassonne before my death.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, pardonnez-moi
Oh God, please forgive me for what I am about to ask.
Si ma prière vous offense
If my request is disrespectful or inappropriate, please forgive me.
On voit toujours plus haut que soi
We always desire things beyond what we already have.
En vieillesse comme en enfance
This applies both to the elderly and the young.
Ma femme, avec mon fils Aignan
My wife and son Aignan have gone on trips.
A voyagé jusqu'à Narbonne
They have traveled as far as Narbonne.
Mon filleul a vu Perpignan
Even my godson has seen Perpignan.
Et je n'ai pas vu Carcassonne
And yet, I have never had the chance to see Carcassonne.
Ainsi chantait, près de Limoux
This is the song that a farmer, bent with age, sang near Limoux.
Un paysan courbé par l'âge
This farmer was old and bent with age.
Je lui dis ami, levez-vous
I told him, my friend, get up.
Nous allons faire le voyage
We will go on this journey together.
Nous partîmes le lendemain
The next day, we set out on our journey.
Mais que le bon Dieu lui pardonne
Sadly, the good Lord forgave him before we could reach our destination.
Il mourut à moitié chemin
He died halfway through our trip towards Carcassonne.
Il n'a jamais vu Carcassonne
Sadly, he never had the chance to witness the beauty of Carcassonne.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Brassens, Gustave Nadaud
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raymond gaspard Hauser
Carcassonne reste une ville de tradition culturelle et les spectacles développés chaque année y sont très nombreux pour la plus grande joie du public et des tourismes.
Quentin kilmister
Si l'on fait attention à la structure de la chanson "Le nombril des femmes d'agents" est exactement la même que celle de Carcassonne reprise à Nadaud. Je pense que c'était en quelque sorte une réponse/relance/remise au bout du jour. Mais quel talent !
le critiqueur critiqueur
Exactement et c'est pas la seule il a fait souvent deux chansons sur un instru ,trop d'inspiration,moi jtrouve ça exceptionnel,c'est chansons sont un tel bonheur c'est incroyable
chant.tonnant
Toujours cette même chaleur chez l'interprète (aussi) qu'est Brassens. Voyons, sur les images, point de Carcassonne puisque "il ne l'a pas vue"...
le critiqueur critiqueur
Vraiment exceptionnel,il arrive a faire deux chansons avec un instru
maxmophil
merci pour la jolie visite!!!
allugre
C'est Collioure au début. On y voit le célèbre clocher. Souvenir du grand abbé Jean Perarnaud, ineffable sur le Trésor et intraitable avec les touristes en slip dans la nef :o). Paix à son âme. Ensuite j'imagine qu'il y a des images de Carcassonne, même si ça ressemble aussi à l'intérieur du Palais des Rois de Majorque, à Perpignan. Merci pour cette vidéo de mon coin. Saudade...
Nguia1
Il s'agit en fait d'une reprise...ou plutôt d'une adaptation d'une chanson qu'il avait déjà chantée:"Femme de Flic", je crois. Il est toujours aussi génial.
jean claude Deuré
exact
les nombrils des femmes d'agents de police exactement
Thomas Simone
moi , je connais Carcassonne , mais je ne me rappelais pas que Georges Brassens avait écrit cette chanson où l'on voit surtout Collioure , un peu Perpignan et très peu Carcassonne !