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

Jehan L'Advenu
Georges Brassens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Puis il revint comme il était parti
Bon pied, bon œil, personne d'averti
Aux dents, toujours la vive marguerite
Aux yeux, toujours la flamme qui crépite

Mit sur ta lèvre, Aline, un long baiser
Mit sur la table un peu d'or étranger
Chanta, chanta deux chansons de marine

S'alla dormir dans la chambre enfantine

Puis il revint comme il était parti
Bon pied, bon œil, personne d'averti
Aux dents, toujours la vive marguerite
Aux yeux, toujours la flamme qui crépite

Rêva tout haut d'écume et de cavale
S'entortilla dans d'étranges rafales
Puis au réveil, quand l'aube se devine
Chanta, chanta deux chansons de marine

Puis il revint comme il était parti
Bon pied, bon œil, personne d'averti
Aux dents, toujours la vive marguerite
Aux yeux, toujours la flamme qui crépite

Fit au pays son adieu saugrenu
Et s'en alla comme il était venu

Fit au pays son adieu saugrenu
Et s'en alla comme il était venu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Georges Brassens's song "Jehan L'Advenu" revolve around the story of a man named Jehan who returns after departing without notice. The song describes his return as being the same as when he left, with his lively and vibrant spirit still intact. As he reunites with his love, Aline, he shares a long kiss with her and presents a small amount of foreign gold on the table. Throughout the song, Jehan sings two songs of the sea and dreams about it, clearly displaying his passion for it.

The last verse of the song tells us that after Jehan's visit, he leaves just as he came, without notice, bidding his country farewell in a peculiar way. The song captures a moment of a man's return, but also showcases his love for the sea and his free-spirited nature. The lyrics are thoughtful and evocative of a man who lives life on his own terms.

Line by Line Meaning

Puis il revint comme il était parti
He returned just as he left

Bon pied, bon œil, personne d'averti
In good shape and without telling anyone

Aux dents, toujours la vive marguerite
With a bright and lively smile

Aux yeux, toujours la flamme qui crépite
With a fiery and passionate gaze

Mit sur ta lèvre, Aline, un long baiser
He gave Aline a long kiss on the lips

Mit sur la table un peu d'or étranger
He put some foreign gold on the table

Chanta, chanta deux chansons de marine
He sang two sea songs

S'alla dormir dans la chambre enfantine
He went to sleep in the childish bedroom

Rêva tout haut d'écume et de cavale
He dreamed out loud of foam and horses

S'entortilla dans d'étranges rafales
He coiled up in strange gusts of wind

Puis au réveil, quand l'aube se devine
Then upon waking, when the dawn appears