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
J' Ai Rendez-Vous Avec Vous
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comme je ne l'admire pas beaucoup
M'enlève son feu, oui mais, d'son feu, moi j'm'en fous
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
La lumière que je préfère
C'est celle de vos yeux jaloux
Tout le restant m'indiffère
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
Monsieur mon propriétaire
Comme je lui dévaste tout
Me chasse de son toit, oui mais, d'son toit, moi j'm'en fous
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
La demeure que je préfère
C'est votre robe à froufrous
Tout le restant m'indiffère
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
Madame ma gargotière
Comme je lui dois trop de sous
Me chasse de sa table, oui mais, d'sa tabl', moi j'm'en fous
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
Le menu que je préfère
C'est la chair de votre cou
Tout le restant m'indiffère
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
Sa Majesté financière
Comme je n'fais rien à son goût
Garde son or, or, de son or, moi j'm'en fous
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
La fortune que je préfère
C'est votre cœur d'amadou
Tout le restant m'indiffère
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
In Georges Brassens's song "J'ai Rendez-Vous Avec Vous," the singer rejects societal norms and values in order to express his single-minded devotion to his beloved. The refrain of the song emphasizes this devotion, as the singer states, "J'ai rendez-vous avec vous" (I have a date with you) again and again.
In the first stanza, the singer rejects the sun's heat and light, saying that he does not admire it. He claims that he is not affected by the sun because he only cares about his beloved, and nothing else matters to him. The singer then turns to his landlord, who has forced him to leave his home. Despite this setback, the singer claims that he does not care about the landlord's house, because his true desire is to be with his beloved. Next, the singer addresses his hostess, who has thrown him out of her establishment due to a debt he owes. He says that he does not care for her table or menu, because all he desires is the flesh of his beloved. Finally, the singer addresses the wealthy, stating that he does not care for their gold, as he only cares for the heart of his beloved.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and devotion, and a critique of societal expectations that threaten to keep the singer away from his beloved. The singer is willing to ignore the conventions of society and the material possessions that others value in order to be with the one he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
Monseigneur l'astre solaire
I don't really admire the sun. Its heat doesn't matter to me, as I have a meeting with you.
Comme je ne l'admire pas beaucoup
I don't really admire it.
M'enlève son feu, oui mais, d'son feu, moi j'm'en fous
It takes away its heat but I don't care about that.
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous
I have a meeting with you.
La lumière que je préfère
The light I prefer is the one from your jealous eyes.
C'est celle de vos yeux jaloux
It's the one from your jealous eyes.
Tout le restant m'indiffère
Everything else doesn't matter to me.
Monsieur mon propriétaire
As I destroy everything I touch, my landlord kicks me out, but I don't care.
Comme je lui dévaste tout
I destroy everything.
Me chasse de son toit, oui mais, d'son toit, moi j'm'en fous
He kicks me out of his roof, but I don't care about that.
La demeure que je préfère
The home I prefer is your frilly dress.
C'est votre robe à froufrous
It's your frilly dress.
Madame ma gargotière
As I owe too much money to my lady, she banishes me from her table, but I don't care.
Comme je lui dois trop de sous
I owe her too much money.
Me chasse de sa table, oui mais, d'sa tabl', moi j'm'en fous
She banishes me from her table, but I don't care about that.
Le menu que je préfère
The dish I prefer is the flesh of your neck.
C'est la chair de votre cou
It's the flesh of your neck.
Sa Majesté financière
As I don't please my financial majesty, it keeps its gold, but I don't care.
Comme je n'fais rien à son goût
I don't please it.
Garde son or, or, de son or, moi j'm'en fous
It keeps its gold, but I don't care about that.
La fortune que je préfère
The fortune I prefer is your tender heart.
C'est votre cœur d'amadou
It's your tender heart.
Tout le restant m'indiffère
Everything else doesn't matter to me.
J'ai rendez-vous avec vous!
I have a meeting with you!
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Georges Charles Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chantalou
J'adore cette chanson!
Gianfar Ays
Me gustaría saber frances para decir que es hermosa esta canción. Con mi creencia, un exelente musico, puede ser llamado así cuando hace que su musica transmita las emociones a la gente sin tener que saber la lengua
Salomé Bouzerand
Esta cansion dice que este musico es amouroso de una dama y que rien ne es mas importante para el que este mujer .
De su casa se hace ejectado, pero sorei de este amor con su dama mui importante , y problemas et cetera etc con logica parello
Salomé Bouzerand
Pero te puede IR sobre Google traduction , et sûrement que tu l'as fait depuis,
Salomé Bouzerand
peut-être même que tu parles français désormais ... "Te puedeS" pardon mon espagnol est vraiment nul nul nul
EDEM MELEGNA
Vive Brassens éternellement !!!
CrisTOasis
Très jolie chanson , aller tous le monde pouce vert !
BARVACHE
Ah tiens j'l'avais apprise en 5° je crois (ou en cm1 j'sais plus) . Souvenirs, souvenirs...
Michel Decaumont
Merçi ! Monsieur Brassens !!!!
Brunet Helen
extraordinaire, c'est ce que je souhaiterai ; avoir rendez vous avec vous