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 petite fille et le Père Noël
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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
The song Le Père Noël et la Petite Fille by Georges Brassens tells the story of a young girl who encounters Santa Claus, or "Papa Gâteau," in Eldorado. The lyrics describe how Santa Claus, with his white beard and carrying a sack on his back, takes the girl on a journey in a carriage towards a life of luxury and comfort. He gives her clothes to keep her warm, covers her in fur, adorns her with jewels, and transforms her previous life of poverty into one of extravagant wealth. The chorus of the song emphasizes how Santa Claus had his hands on her hips throughout this experience.
However, despite the alluring description of this seemingly perfect life, the last verse encourages the listener to "draw the curtains" on their past misfortunes and embrace the good fortune that has come their way. The phrase "les mains sur tes hanches" (his hands on your hips) is repeated throughout the song, suggesting both an act of guidance and control by Santa Claus over the young girl.
The interpretation of the song can be seen as the conflict between the desire for material wealth and the freedom of the self. The repetitive "les mains sur tes hanches" lines can also be seen as a metaphor for a deeper level of control experienced by women throughout history.
Line by Line Meaning
Avec sa hotte sur le dos
With his sack on his back
Il s'en venait d'Eldorado
He came from Eldorado
Il avait une barbe blanche
He had a white beard
Il avait nom 'Papa Gâteau'
His name was 'Papa Gâteau'
Il a mis du pain sur ta planche
He put bread on your table
Il a mis les mains sur tes hanches
He put his hands on your hips
Il t'a promenée dans un landau
He took you for a ride in a pram
En route pour la vie d'château
On the way to the life of a castle
La belle vie dorée sur tranche
The beautiful golden life on a platter
Il te l'offrit sur un plateau
He offered it to you on a plate
Il a mis du grain dans ta grange
He put grain in your barn
Toi qui n'avais rien sur le dos
You who had nothing on your back
Il t'a couverte de manteaux
He covered you with coats
Il t'a vêtue comme un dimanche
He dressed you up like a Sunday
Tu n'auras pas froid de sitôt
You won't be cold anytime soon
Il a mis l'hermine à ta manche
He put ermine on your sleeve
Tous les camés, tous les émaux
All the cameos, all the enamels
Il les fit pendre à tes rameaux
He hung them on your branches
Il fit rouler en avalanches
He caused pearls and rubies to roll like avalanches
Perles et rubis dans tes sabots
Pearls and rubies in your clogs
Il a mis de l'or à ta branche
He put gold on your branch
Tire la belle, tire le rideau
Pull the beautiful one, pull the curtain
Sur tes misères de tantôt
On your past miseries
Et qu'au-dehors il pleuve, il vente
And even if it rains or winds outside
Le mauvais temps n'est plus ton lot
Bad weather is no longer your lot
Le joli temps des coudées franches
The nice time of elbow room
On a mis les mains sur tes hanches
They put their hands on your hips
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lurdes cerdeira
Quelle merveille d’écouter ce morceau ! C’est comme une douce caresse qui apaise !!! 💜🍀
houx
Souvenir merveilleux d'une époque où le silence était habitée par Brassens !
Ian Moro
chante Tonton Georges.. chante.. toi tu es immortel! la preuve:c'est que nous sommes encore des milliers à t'écouter et à te chanter...chante Tonton GEorges.. chante.. toujours! Ian.
Frederic Schmitt
Des MILLIERS
Amélie BRUN
Magnifique chanson de Georges Brassens, merci !
hubert canonici
Le talent à ce point là c’est du génie
Imperator carenbus
La richesse des métaphores ici employées relèvent du grand génie. Brassens, merci pour cet héritage.
Cette chanson est bouleversante par ses mots, sa mélodie et son sens.
jeanbaptisteeuriat
Une chanson de Brassens que je ne connaissais pas. Merci de l'avoir partagée, elle est magnifique
laurent guichard
@jeanbaptisteeuriat cette chanson a été reprise par Frida Simons ,Barbara Boccara et par Andrée Barbara
91delpiero
il a mis la 8arre trop haute,y en a a pas un qui a réussi a lui gratter le pied,chapeau georges et merci pour tout