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

Dieu S'Il Existe
Georges Brassens Lyrics

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Au ciel de qui se moque-t-on?
Était-ce utile qu'un orage
Vînt au pays de Jeanneton
Mettre à mal son beau pâturage?

Pour ses brebis, pour ses moutons
Plus une plante fourragère
Rien d'épargné que le chardon

Dieu, s'il existe, il exagère, il exagère

Et là-dessus, méchant, glouton
Et pas pour un sou bucolique
Vers le troupeau de Jeanneton
Le loup sortant du bois rapplique

Sans laisser même un rogaton
Tout il croque, tout il digère
Au ciel de qui se moque-t-on?
Dieu, s'il existe, il exagère, il exagère

Et là-dessus le Corydon
Le promis de la pastourelle
Laquelle allait au grand pardon
Rêver d'amours intemporelles

Au ciel de qui se moque-t-on?
Suivit la cuisse plus légère
Et plus belle d'une goton
Dieu, s'il existe, il exagère, il exagère

Adieu les prairies, les moutons
Et les beaux jours de la bergère
Au ciel de qui se moque-t-on?
Ferait-on de folles enchères?

Quand il grêle sur le persil
C'est bête et méchant, je suggère

Qu'on en parle au prochain concile
Dieu, s'il existe, il exagère, il exagère

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Georges Brassens's song "Dieu s'il existe" talk about the frustration and resentment towards God's supposed actions or inactions. The singer questions why they mock the heavens and wonders if it was necessary for a storm to come and ruin Jeanneton's beautiful pasture. The storm destroys everything, leaving nothing spared except for thistles. The singer believes that if God exists, he exaggerates and goes overboard with his actions.

Continuing the narrative, the lyrics describe a wolf, hungry and wicked, coming out of the woods and devouring everything in Jeanneton's flock without leaving any scraps behind. The singer questions the purpose of this cruel act, once again mocking the heavens and suggesting that if God exists, he is exaggerating.

The song then introduces Corydon, the promised lover of the shepherdess. Jeanneton goes to a grand pardon, dreaming of timeless loves. However, the singer again mocks the heavens, wondering who they mock this time. Jeanneton's beauty leads to her departure from the pastures and her days as a shepherdess, as she follows her desires. And once again, the singer suggests that if God exists, he exaggerates.

The lyrics conclude with a farewell to the meadows, the sheep, and the beautiful days of the shepherdess. The singer questions who they mock this time and sarcastically asks if they are making foolish bets. The singer suggests that when there is a hailstorm damaging the parsley, it would be wise to address this issue at the next council meeting. Once again, if God exists, he is exaggerating.

Dieu S'Il ExisteGeorges Brassens Lyrics

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Dieu S'Il Existe
Georges Brassens Lyrics