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
Il Suffit De Passer Le Pont )
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est tout de suite l'aventure
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
J't'emmèn' visiter la nature
L'herbe est douce à Pâques fleuries
Jetons mes sabots, tes galoches
Et, légers comme des cabris
Courons après les sons de cloches
En l'honneur de notre bonheur
Ding din dong ! faut l'dire à personne
J'ai graissé la patte au sonneur
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
Courons, guilleret, guillerette
Il suffit de passer le pont
Et c'est le royaum' des fleurettes
Entre tout's les bell's que voici
Je devin' cell' que tu préfères
C'est pas l'coqu'licot, Dieu merci
Ni l'coucou, mais la primevère
J'en vois un' blottie sous les feuilles
Elle est en velours comm' tes joues
Fais le guet pendant qu'je la cueille
" Je n'ai jamais aimé que vous "
Il suffit de trois petits bonds
C'est tout de suit' la tarantelle
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
J'saurai ménager tes dentelles
J'ai graissé la patte au berger
Pour lui fair' jouer une aubade
Lors, ma mie, sans croire au danger
Faisons mille et une gambades
Ton pied frappe et frappe la mousse
Si l'chardon s'y pique dedans
Ne pleure pas, ma mie qui souffre
Je te l'enlève avec les dents
On n'a plus rien à se cacher
On peut s'aimer comm' bon nous semble
Et tant mieux si c'est un péché
Nous irons en enfer ensemble
Il suffit de passer le pont
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
The lyrics of "Il Suffit De Passer Le Pont" by Georges Brassens are about a couple who leave their troubles behind and embrace the adventure waiting for them on the other side of the bridge. The singer encourages his lover to join him in exploring nature, feeling the softness of the grass, and chasing the sounds of the church bells. The song captures the joy and playfulness of a carefree day spent in each other's company, with the only concern being to cherish the moment and revel in the beauty of the natural world around them. The singer believes that they have nothing to hide, and though some may would view their affection as sinful, they do not care as they will face the punishment and the adventure together.
Line by Line Meaning
Il suffit de passer le pont
All it takes is crossing the bridge
C'est tout de suite l'aventure
And you'll immediately embark on adventure.
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
Let me hold onto the hem of your dress
J't'emmèn' visiter la nature
I'll take you to visit nature.
L'herbe est douce à Pâques fleuries
The grass is soft during blooming Easter.
Jetons mes sabots, tes galoches
Let's throw away my clogs and your overshoes.
Et, légers comme des cabris
And be light as young goats.
Courons après les sons de cloches
Let's run after the sounds of bells.
Ding din don ! les matines sonnent
Ding ding don! The morning prayers ring.
En l'honneur de notre bonheur
In honor of our happiness.
Ding din dong ! faut l'dire à personne
Ding ding dong! But we should not tell anyone.
J'ai graissé la patte au sonneur
I've bribed the bell-ringer.
Courons, guilleret, guillerette
Let's run, lively and sprightly.
Et c'est le royaum' des fleurettes
And here we are in the kingdom of flowers.
Je devin' cell' que tu préfères
I can tell which one you prefer.
C'est pas l'coqu'licot, Dieu merci
It's not the poppy, thank God.
Ni l'coucou, mais la primevère
Not the cuckoo, but the primrose.
J'en vois un' blottie sous les feuilles
I see one nestled under the leaves.
Elle est en velours comm' tes joues
It's as soft as your cheeks.
Fais le guet pendant qu'je la cueille
Keep watch while I pick it.
"Je n'ai jamais aimé que vous"
"I have never loved anyone but you."
Il suffit de trois petits bonds
All it takes is three little jumps.
C'est tout de suit' la tarantelle
And we'll immediately dance the tarantella.
J'saurai ménager tes dentelles
I'll take care of your lace.
J'ai graissé la patte au berger
I've bribed the shepherd.
Pour lui fair' jouer une aubade
So he can play us a serenade.
Faisons mille et une gambades
Let's make a thousand and one leaps.
Ton pied frappe et frappe la mousse
Your foot hits the foam over and over again.
Si l'chardon s'y pique dedans
If a thistle pricks you,
Ne pleure pas, ma mie qui souffre
Don't cry, my love who suffers.
Je te l'enlève avec les dents
I'll remove it with my teeth.
On n'a plus rien à se cacher
There's nothing left for us to hide.
On peut s'aimer comm' bon nous semble
We can love as we please.
Et tant mieux si c'est un péché
And it's even better if it's a sin.
Nous irons en enfer ensemble
We'll go to hell together.
Il suffit de passer le pont
All it takes is crossing the bridge.
Laisse-moi tenir ton jupon
Let me hold onto the hem of your dress.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGES CHARLES BRASSENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alpha Gerard
Que c'est beau ! Je ne me lasserai jamais d'écouter ce texte d'une incroyable poésie.
ely ejoty
Très beau texte en effet. Mais qui, au final, est devenu une "grande chanson". .
michel JEAN
Juste un petit chef-d'oeuvre ! Merci Georges ♫ ♪...
Cheretina C
Il y a des invitations qui ne se refusent pas...💞
francotiola
Elena est enfuie de l'Italie pour s'en aller sur les ponts des fleuves du Brésil! Pouce en haut pour toi et pour Georges Brassens!
LeCommedieDellArte
@Jorgeyuk Eu também, querido amigo, eu também !! Sim, creio que seja o original, não tenho certeza, Jorge, mas creio que sim! Tantissime grazie a te per la tua bellissima amicizia !! Ti auguro una bellissima , stupenda settimana e che Luquinha ti faccia sempre tanto, tanto felice !!
LeCommedieDellArte
@francotiola Grazie, Francesco, grazie... Evviva Georges Brassens !! Evviva Francesco !!
LeCommedieDellArte
@ridarzola57 Mah, quello che io ho letto è che l'originale è di Brassens ... sarebbe proprio questa canzone .... Non ne sono sicura, Francesco... Un bacino !! :)