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

Chansonnette a celle qui reste pucelle
Georges Brassens Lyrics

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Jadis la mineure
Perdait son honneur
Au moindre faux pas
Ces murs n'ont plus cours de
Nos jours c'est la gourde
Qui ne le fait pas

Toute ton école

Petite, rigole
Qu'encore à seize ans
Tu sois vierge et sage
Fidèle à l'usage
Caduc à présent

Malgré les exemples
De gosses, plus ample
Informé que toi
Et qu'on dépucelle
Avec leur crécelle
Au bout de leurs doigts

Chacun te brocarde
De ce que tu gardes
Ta fleur d'oranger
Pour la bonne cause
Et chacune glose
Sur tes préjugés

Et tu sers de cible
Mais reste insensible
Aux propos moqueurs
Aux traits à la gomme
Comporte-toi comme
Te le dit ton cur

Quoi que l'on raconte
Y a pas plus de honte
A se refuser
Ni plus de mérite
D'ailleurs, ma petite
Qu'à se faire baiser

Facultatifs
Certes, si te presse
La soif de caresses
Cours, saute avec les
Vénus de Panurge
Vas, mais si rien n'urge
Faut pas t'emballer

Mais si tu succombes
Sache surtout qu'on peut
Être passée par
Onze mille verges

Et demeurer vierge
Paradoxe à part

Overall Meaning

In the song "Chansonnette A Celle Qui Reste Pucelle," Georges Brassens addresses a woman who has chosen to remain a virgin despite societal pressures. The first verse reflects on how times have changed, with "molluscs" having replaced "minors" as those who may make sexual mistakes. The second verse praises this woman, saying that even though her peers may ridicule her, she should be proud to have held onto her "orange blossom" for the right reasons. The final verse speaks directly to the woman, advising her that while she can choose to pursue sexual experiences if she wishes, there is no shame in remaining a virgin. The song ultimately celebrates the idea that people should make their own choices about their bodies and not worry about the judgments of others.

Chansonnette a celle qui reste pucelleGeorges Brassens Lyrics

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Chansonnette a celle qui reste pucelle
Georges Brassens Lyrics