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

L'orphelin
Georges Brassens Lyrics

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Sauf dans le cas fréquent, hélas
Où ce sont de vrais dégueulasses
On ne devrait perdre jamais
Ses père et mère, bien sûr, mais

A moins d'être un petit malin
Qui meurt avant d'être orphelin
Ou un infortuné bâtard

Ça vous pend au nez tôt ou tard

Quand se drapant dans un linceul
Ses parents le laissent tout seul
Le petit orphelin, ma foi
Est bien à plaindre toutefois

Sans aller jusqu'à décréter
Qu'il devient un enfant gâté
Disons que dans son affliction
Il trouve des compensations

D'abord au dessert aussitôt
La meilleure part du gâteau
Et puis plus d'école pardi
La semaine aux quatre-jeudis

On le traite comme un pacha
A sa place on fouette le chat
Et le trouvant très chic en deuil
Les filles lui font des clins d'œil

Il serait par trop saugrenu
D'énumérer par le menu
Les faveurs et les passe-droits
Qu'en l'occurrence on lui octroie

Tirant même un tel bénéfice
En perdant leurs parents, des fils
Dénaturés regrettent de
N'en avoir à perdre que deux

Hier j'ai dit à un animal
De flic qui me voulait du mal
Je suis orphelin, savez-vous?
Il me répondit Je m'en fous

J'aurais eu quarante ans de moins
Je suis sûr que par les témoins
La brute aurait été mouchée
Mais ces lâches n'ont pas bougé

Aussi mon enfant si tu dois
Être orphelin, dépêche-toi
Tant qu'à perdre tes chers parents
Petit, n'attends pas d'être grand

L'orphelin d'âge canonique
Personne ne le plaint bernique
Et pour tout le monde il demeure
Orphelin de la onzième heure

Celui qui a fait cette chanson
A voulu dire à sa façon
Que la perte des vieux est par fois
Perte sèche, blague à part

Avec l'âge c'est bien normal
Les plaies du cœur guérissent mal

Souventes fois même, salut
Elles ne se referment plus

Overall Meaning

Georges Brassens’s song “Orphelin” speaks about the loss of parents, and the possible consequences of becoming an orphan. In the song, Brassens discusses how losing one’s parents can lead to advantageous circumstances, such as being treated with sympathy, receiving extra attention or treats, and even gaining certain privileges. However, these come at a great cost – the loss of one’s parents, which is an experience that Brassens believes nobody should have to go through. Unless one dies before becoming an orphan, or is an unfortunate bastard, losing one’s parents is inevitable, and Brassens asserts that it is a tragedy that nobody should have to face.

Despite the benefits that an orphan may receive, Brassens offers empathy for anyone who must suffer the pain of losing their parents. He suggests that being an orphan is not an enviable circumstance to be in, even if it comes with some compensations. It is a clear message that losing one’s parents is a tough experience that can never be fully compensated for, regardless of any accompanying advantages.

Overall, the song brings attention to the importance of family, and the value of treasuring one’s loved ones while they are still alive. It also acknowledges the struggles and pain that come from losing one’s parents and the fact that nobody should have to bear that burden.

L'orphelinGeorges Brassens Lyrics

DIDIER HUMBERT

myriam edjekouane

Yvelyne Maestracci

al mo

Catherine Hervais

Jean marc Guiriato

nicky bleunven

Taillandier Jp

Andy James

L L

Andy James

V. P.

Pierre-François MICHEL

L'orphelin
Georges Brassens Lyrics