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

Chanson Pour l
Georges Brassens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Elle est à toi cette chanson
Toi l'auvergnat qui sans façons
M'as donné quatre bouts de bois
Quand dans ma vie il faisait froid

Toi qui m'as donné du feu quand
Les croquantes et les croquants
Tous les gens bien intentionnés

M'avaient fermé la porte au nez

Ce n'était rien qu'un feu de bois
Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
A la manière d'un feu de joie

Toi l'auvergnat quand tu mourras
Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras
Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
Au père éternel

Elle est à toi cette chanson
Toi l'hôtesse qui sans façons
M'as donné quatre bouts de pain
Quand dans ma vie il faisait faim

Toi qui m'ouvris ta huche quand
Les croquantes et les croquants
Tous les gens bien intentionnés
S'amusaient à me voir jeuner

Ce n'était rien qu'un peu de pain
Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
A la manière d'un grand festin

Toi l'hôtesse quand tu mourras
Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras
Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
Au père éternel

Elle est à toi cette chanson
Toi l'étranger qui sans façons
D'un air malheureux m'as souri
Lorsque les gendarmes m'ont pris

Toi qui n'as pas applaudi quand
Les croquantes et les croquants
Tous les gens bien intentionnés
Riaient de me voir amener

Ce n'était rien qu'un peu de miel
Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
A la manière d'un grand soleil

Toi l'étranger quand tu mourras
Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras

Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
Au père éternel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Georges Brassens's Chanson Pour l'Auvergnat speak of gratitude towards three different individuals who showed the singer kindness in times of need. The first verse is dedicated to an Auvergnat who gave the singer four pieces of wood to keep warm when he was going through a tough time. The second verse is for a hostess who gave him four pieces of bread when he was hungry, and the third is for a stranger who smiled at him when he was being taken away by the police.

The singer expresses that although the gifts were small, the kindness of these three individuals has stayed with him and still warms his heart. He concludes each verse by hoping that when these individuals pass away, they will be taken to heaven by the Grim Reaper.

This song is a beautiful tribute to the power of small acts of kindness and how they can make a huge impact on someone's life. The chorus of the song is strikingly simple and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The melody is simple and delicate, which enhances the mood of the lyrics. This song has become an anthem of sorts for the people of central France, and it is often played at public events and festivals.

Line by Line Meaning

Elle est à toi cette chanson
This song belongs to you

Toi l'auvergnat qui sans façons
You, the Auvergnese, who simply

M'as donné quatre bouts de bois
Gave me four pieces of wood

Quand dans ma vie il faisait froid
When my life was cold

Toi qui m'as donné du feu quand
You who gave me fire when

Les croquantes et les croquants
The well-to-dos and well-to-don'ts

Tous les gens bien intentionnés
All the well-intentioned people

M'avaient fermé la porte au nez
Had shut the door in my face

Ce n'était rien qu'un feu de bois
It was nothing more than a wood fire

Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
But it had warmed my body

Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
And it still burns in my soul

A la manière d'un feu de joie
Like a bonfire

Toi l'auvergnat quand tu mourras
You, Auvergnese, when you die

Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras
When the undertaker carries you away

Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
May he take you to heaven

Au père éternel
To the eternal Father

Elle est à toi cette chanson
This song belongs to you,

Toi l'hôtesse qui sans façons
You, the hostess, who simply

M'as donné quatre bouts de pain
Gave me four pieces of bread

Quand dans ma vie il faisait faim
When my life was hungry

Toi qui m'ouvris ta huche quand
You who opened your cupboard when

Les croquantes et les croquants
The well-to-dos and well-to-don'ts

Tous les gens bien intentionnés
All the well-intentioned people

S'amusaient à me voir jeuner
Were amused at seeing me go hungry

Ce n'était rien qu'un peu de pain
It was only a little bit of bread

Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
But it had warmed my body

Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
And it still burns in my soul

A la manière d'un grand festin
Like a great feast

Toi l'hôtesse quand tu mourras
You, hostess, when you die

Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras
When the undertaker carries you away

Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
May he take you to heaven

Au père éternel
To the eternal Father

Elle est à toi cette chanson
This song belongs to you,

Toi l'étranger qui sans façons
You, stranger, who simply

D'un air malheureux m'as souri
Smiled at me with a sad look

Lorsque les gendarmes m'ont pris
When the police took me away

Toi qui n'as pas applaudi quand
You who did not applaud when

Les croquantes et les croquants
The well-to-dos and well-to-don'ts

Tous les gens bien intentionnés
All the well-intentioned people

Riaient de me voir amener
Laughed to see me being brought in

Ce n'était rien qu'un peu de miel
It was only a little bit of honey

Mais il m'avait chauffé le corps
But it had warmed my body

Et dans mon âme il brûle encore
And it still burns in my soul

A la manière d'un grand soleil
Like a bright sun

Toi l'étranger quand tu mourras
You, stranger, when you die

Quand le croque-mort t'emporteras
When the undertaker carries you away

Qu'il te conduise à travers ciel
May he take you to heaven

Au père éternel
To the eternal Father

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: GEORGES CHARLES BRASSENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Pierre Denoreaz

2y↑3

Magnifique interprétation de la chanson pour l'Auvergnat par Joan Baez. Joan Baez toujours aussi grande. Et Belle encore.

Stephane Riopel

2y↑1

A Legend, covering a legendary song by a legend legendarely.. across language barriers.. you love to see it...

MA He-

2y↑1

Joan Baez
ícono de la contracultura de los 70, y de las comunidades hippie.

Además de ser una mujer culta y refinada, y de haber crecido con un inglés y un español impecables, ahora me encuentro con que no canta mal las ranchetas de Brassens, en français, bien sûr!