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
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
La Premi%C3%A8re Fille
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Avec sa hotte sur le dos
Avec sa hotte sur le dos
Il s'en venait d'Eldorado
Il s'en venait d'Eldorado
Il avait une barbe blanche
Il avait nom "Papa Gâteau"
Il a mis du pain sur ta planche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Il t'a promenée dans un landau
Il t'a promenée dans un landau
En route pour la vie d'château
En route pour la vie d'château
La belle vie dorée sur tranche
Il te l'offrit sur un plateau
Il a mis du grain dans ta grange
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Toi qui n'avais rien sur le dos
Toi qui n'avais rien sur le dos
Il t'a couverte de manteaux
Il t'a couverte de manteaux
Il t'a vêtue comme un dimanche
Tu n'auras pas froid de sitôt
Il a mis l'hermine à ta manche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Tous les camés, tous les émaux
Tous les camés, tous les émaux
Il les fit pendre à tes rameaux
Il les fit pendre à tes rameaux
Il fit rouler en avalanches
Perles et rubis dans tes sabots
Il a mis de l'or à ta branche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Tire la belle, tire le rideau
Tire la belle, tire le rideau
Sur tes misères de tantôt
Sur tes misères de tantôt
Et qu'au-dehors il pleuve, il vente
Le mauvais temps n'est plus ton lot
Le joli temps des coudées franches
On a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Avec sa hotte sur le dos
Il s'en venait d'Eldorado
Il s'en venait d'Eldorado
Il avait une barbe blanche
Il avait nom "Papa Gâteau"
Il a mis du pain sur ta planche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Il t'a promenée dans un landau
En route pour la vie d'château
En route pour la vie d'château
La belle vie dorée sur tranche
Il te l'offrit sur un plateau
Il a mis du grain dans ta grange
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Toi qui n'avais rien sur le dos
Toi qui n'avais rien sur le dos
Il t'a couverte de manteaux
Il t'a couverte de manteaux
Il t'a vêtue comme un dimanche
Tu n'auras pas froid de sitôt
Il a mis l'hermine à ta manche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Tous les camés, tous les émaux
Tous les camés, tous les émaux
Il les fit pendre à tes rameaux
Il les fit pendre à tes rameaux
Il fit rouler en avalanches
Perles et rubis dans tes sabots
Il a mis de l'or à ta branche
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Tire la belle, tire le rideau
Tire la belle, tire le rideau
Sur tes misères de tantôt
Sur tes misères de tantôt
Et qu'au-dehors il pleuve, il vente
Le mauvais temps n'est plus ton lot
Le joli temps des coudées franches
On a mis les mains sur tes hanches
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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