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
Je m'suis fait tout petit
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devant personne
Maintenant je rampe et je fait le beau
Quand ell' me sonne
J'étais chien méchant, ell' me fait manger
Dans sa menotte
J'avais des dents d'loup, je les ai changées
Pour des quenottes
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui ferm' les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
J'étais dur à cuire, ell' m'a converti
La fine bouche
Et je suis tombé tout chaud, tout rôti
Contre sa bouche
Qui a des dents de lait quand elle sourit
Quand elle chante
Et des dents de loup quand elle est furie
Qu'elle est méchante
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui ferm' les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
Je subis sa loi, je fis le tout doux
Sous son empire
Bien qu'ell' soit jalouse au-delà de tout
Et même pire
Un' jolie pervenche qui m'avait paru
Plus jolie qu'elle
Un' jolie pervenche un jour en mourut
À coups d'ombrelle
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui ferm' les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
Tous les somnambules, tous les mages m'ont
Dit sans malice
Qu'en ses bras en croix, je subirais mon
Dernier supplice
Il en est de pir's il en est d'meilleurs
Mais à tout prendre
Qu'on se pende ici, qu'on se pende ailleurs
S'il faut se pendre
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui ferm' les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
In "Je m'suis fait tout petit," Georges Brassens sings about a once-proud and independent man who has now become completely subservient to a woman, as symbolized by a doll. The song presents a series of contrasts and transformations as the singer recounts his change from a tough, wolf-toothed dog to a soft, obedient lapdog who grovels at his mistress's feet. The singer admits to having been converted by the woman's fine taste and beautiful smile, but also acknowledges her jealousy and violent temper. He has become so small and powerless that he can only await his inevitable death, prophesied by sleepwalkers and mages. Through these images, Brassens critiques the idea of giving up one's freedom and self-respect in a relationship, and warns against the dangers of falling under someone else's control.
One of the most interesting facts about "Je m'suis fait tout petit" is that it was inspired by a real-life incident involving Brassens's friend and fellow musician, Paul Fort. In 1953, Fort had fallen in love with a woman who treated him badly, and Brassens wrote the song as a way to console him. The lyrics were meant to be humorous and lighthearted, though they also contained a serious message about the perils of surrendering one's autonomy in a relationship. Despite its dark undertones, the song became one of Brassens's most popular and enduring hits.
Another noteworthy aspect of "Je m'suis fait tout petit" is its use of irony and paradox. The title, which means "I've Made Myself Tiny," is in direct contradiction to the singer's initial description of himself as proud and unyielding. Similarly, the lines "I had wolf teeth, I changed them for dentures" and "I was a vicious dog, she made me eat from her hand" turn conventional notions of strength and weakness on their head. These verbal reversals underscore the singer's sense of disorientation and powerlessness, as well as his recognition that he has become disconnected from his own identity.
Musically, "Je m'suis fait tout petit" is notable for its gentle melody and simple, repetitive structure. The song features just two chords (G and D) and a straightforward, sing-along chorus that reinforces the idea of the singer's childishness and dependence. Brassens's vocals are characterized by his trademark drawl and wry sense of humor, which keep the song from becoming too sentimental or melodramatic.
Line by Line Meaning
Je n'avais jamais ôté mon chapeau
I had never taken off my hat
Devant personne
In front of anyone
Maintenant je rampe et je fait le beau
Now I crawl and act like a lapdog
Quand ell' me sonne
When she calls me
J'étais chien méchant, ell' me fait manger
I used to be a vicious dog, but she makes me eat from her hand
Dans sa menotte
In her little hand
J'avais des dents d'loup, je les ai changées
I had wolf teeth, but I changed them
Pour des quenottes
For some new teeth
Je m'suis fait tout p'tit devant un' poupée
I made myself small in front of a doll
Qui ferm' les yeux quand on la couche
Who closes her eyes when you lay her down
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
Who says 'mama' when you touch her
J'étais dur à cuire, ell' m'a converti
I was tough, but she converted me
La fine bouche
She had fine tastes
Et je suis tombé tout chaud, tout rôti
And I fell, all warm and cozy
Contre sa bouche
Against her mouth
Qui a des dents de lait quand elle sourit
Who has baby teeth when she smiles
Quand elle chante
When she sings
Et des dents de loup quand elle est furie
And wolf teeth when she's angry
Qu'elle est méchante
When she's mean
Je subis sa loi, je fis le tout doux
I follow her rules, I act very gentle
Sous son empire
Under her rule
Bien qu'ell' soit jalouse au-delà de tout
Even though she's jealous beyond measure
Et même pire
And even worse
Un' jolie pervenche qui m'avait paru
A pretty periwinkle that seemed
Plus jolie qu'elle
Prettier than her
Un' jolie pervenche un jour en mourut
One day a pretty periwinkle died
À coups d'ombrelle
By blows of an umbrella
Tous les somnambules, tous les mages m'ont
All sleepwalkers, all magicians have told me
Dit sans malice
Without malice
Qu'en ses bras en croix, je subirais mon
That in her arms, in a cross, I will suffer my
Dernier supplice
Final torment
Il en est de pir's il en est d'meilleurs
Some are worse, some are better
Mais à tout prendre
But all things considered
Qu'on se pende ici, qu'on se pende ailleurs
Whether we hang here or hang elsewhere
S'il faut se pendre
If we must hang
Contributed by Claire I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@karlitohama602
Je n'avais jamais ôté mon chapeau
Devant personne
Maintenant je rampe et je fait le beau
Quand elle me sonne
J'étais chien méchant, elle me fait manger
Dans sa menotte
J'avais des dents d'loup, je les ai changées
Pour des quenottes
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui ferme les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
J'était dur à cuire, elle m'a converti
La fine mouche
Et je suis tombé tout chaud, tout rôti
Contre sa bouche
Qui a des dents de lait quand elle sourit
Quand elle chante
Et des dents de loup quand elle est furie
Qu'elle est méchante
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui ferme les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
Je subis sa loi, je file tout doux
Sous son empire
Bien qu'elle soit jalouse au-delà de tout
Et même pire
Une jolie pervenche qui m'avait paru
Plus jolie qu'elle
Une jolie pervenche un jour en mourut
À coup d'ombrelle
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui ferme les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
Tous les somnambules, tous les mages m'ont
Dit sans malice
Qu'en ses bras en croix, je subirai mon
Dernier supplice
Il en est de pires, il en est d'meilleures
Mais à tout prendre
Qu'on se pende ici, qu'on se pende ailleurs
S'il faut se pendre
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui ferme les yeux quand on la couche
Je m'suis fait tout petit devant une poupée
Qui fait Maman quand on la touche
@LetsChillPage
Made myself all small (Translation)
.
I never needed to took off my hat
For anyone
Now I am crawling, with both hands I clap
If she rings me once
I was naughty hound. Now, in her palm hand,
she makes me come eat
I had the wolf fangs, I have changed them
For lil baby teeth
.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when one wants lay her
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her
.
I was a badass, by her converted
Fly so dexterous*
And I was falling all hot, all roasted
So close to her mouth
That has baby teeth when she is smiling
When she is singing
And the wolf sharp fangs when she is fury
That she is so mean
.
Made myself ...
.
I'm under her yoke, I softly walking
Balance on tightropes
Because she's jealous beyond anything
And even worse
A periwinkle** appeared to me
Still more cute than she
Pretty periwinkle one day is dead
Under blows of sunshade
.
Made myself ...
.
All the sleepwalkers, all the magicians
Don't shenanigans
Her arms crossed on me, annunciation
Of my last sufferance
There are ones worse, there are ones better
But in other hand
Be hanged on here, be hanged elsewhere
If we'll be hanged
.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when one wants lay her
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her ...
_____________________________________________
* "fly" (the insect therefore) is in double ways here, "fine mouche" was used to name a good swordsman - the fly here refers to the little ball at the end of the sword to avoid serious injury to the opponent during tournaments -. But it also designate the fly which be used by aristocracy in XVIII century for face make-up - a small black point drawn on the cheek, close mouth.
.
** "Periwinkle" (Pervenche) This word in French indicates a woman police officer who draws up the reports of infraction of the highway code and more particularly, the bad parking. Their real name is "contractual" (contractuelle). But the French gave them the nickname "periwinkle" because of the color of their uniform similar to that of the flower.
_____________________________________________
I tried to respect to the nearest foot, the number of syllables of each verse of this magnificent song by the French artist while preserving its original meaning and respecting the rhymes. Really long work to get the best result. I submitted the work on the job a thousand times, corrected, and corrected again and again. So, for the purists, thank you for your indulgence therefore.
@Steffouf
@Oong chi san I've never take my hat off in front of anyone,
Now i crawl and parade when she calls.
I was an angry dog, now she makes me eat in the palm of her hand.
I had wolf's teeth, i've swapped them for kid's teeth.
I made myself tiny in front of a doll
Who closes her eyes when you touch her.
It's a beautiful analogy of him becoming a kid when he met this doll. His mastery of the french language makes it hard to translate the beauty of the lyrics.
:)
@djaffarzegaoui8254
Je suis d’Alger et fans de Brassens j’ai 60 ans mais je crois que les Français pas tous bien sûr on changé de terre avec la médiocrité des chanteurs d’aujourd’hui mais je sais aussi qui reste beaucoup d’adeptes de ces textes merveilleux
@vegetasayajin1914
Djaffar les algérien aime Brassens Peugeot la savate Lacoste la baguette ... ont aiment la vieille France ont aiment la France... les français aiment les chanteur anglo saxon Audi Nike Burger les français aime tout sauf ce qui et français... pour une large majorité de la nouvelle génération...
@cerilam
@Végéta Sayajin OK végéta le suceur de jap
@remka2000
Nan ya des gens qui ne bougent pas
@sylvainleopard4532
Que voulez vous, c'est une question d'époque. Je suis français sans origine africaine et je suis un grand amateur d'Idir, y'a t'il encore beaucoup de chanteurs qui chantent comme Idir aujourd'hui en Algérie, y en a t-il beaucoup parmis les nouvelles générations qui l'écoutent sans leurs parents ?
@MrRemi1802
Si vous êtes d'Alger et que vous aimez Brassens, alors vous devez connaître l'excellente interprétation de cette chanson par Baaziz.
@nikkoigawa8057
Moi j'ai 71 ans aujourd'hui, j'ai vu georges BRASSENS en 1973 à BOURGOUIN-JALLIEU , 38.j'avais 22 ans à l'époque.c'était le bonheur de ma vie de le voir en personne. ❤😊.
@tmbs1139
I don't speak a word in French but this guy has me slowly falling for the language. His subtle baritone makes love with the words he's singing and I absolutely love it.
@user-yg6kb5bw6p
True
@eole123456789
I made myself all tiny
In front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when you lay her down
I made myself all tiny
In front of a doll
Who goes Mommy when you touch her
.... There you have it the chorus!