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
Le Général Dort Debout
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fermez le banc pas de mousquetade
Tout le monde au garde à vous
Mais le général dort debout
Les soldats il est pourtant vrai
On avait dit qu′ils se battraient
On devait faire une jolie guerre
Les officiers ne sont pas content
Du colonel au sous-lieutenant
Transmettent se commandement
Baboum badaboum rompez les rangs
Regardez la tête penchée
Il faut l'emmener se coucher
Ce tantôt pas de héros
Car le général fait dodo
Sur le plancher du salon
Sont rangés les soldats de plomb
Fantassins et artilleurs
Les cavaliers les sapeurs
Il vont jouer leur destin
Pourtant aucun ordre ne vient
Rantanplan, pas de grande parade
Fermez le banc pas de mousquetade
Tout le monde au garde à vous
Mais le général dort debout
Les soldats il est pourtant vrai
On avait dit qu′ils se battraient
On devait faire une jolie guerre
Mais le général dort debout
Les officiers ne sont pas content
Du colonel au sous-lieutenant
Transmettent se commandement
Baboum badaboum rompez les rangs
Regardez la tête penchée
Il faut l'emmener se coucher
Ce tantôt pas de héros
Car le général fait dodo
Le marchand de sable vient
Apportant le sommeil en ses mains
Dormez bien la lune luit
Général bonne nuit
The song "Le Général Dort Debout" by Georges Brassens is a satirical commentary on the incompetence and ineffectiveness of military leaders and the futility of war. The lyrics portray a military general who appears to be asleep while on duty, despite the expectation that he should be leading his troops into battle. The first two lines, "Rantanplan, pas de grande parade / Fermez le banc pas de mousquetade" suggest that there is no grand military parade or firing of muskets happening, indicating a lack of action in the military.
The repeated line "Tout le monde au garde à vous / Mais le général dort debout" emphasizes the irony and absurdity of the situation. Everyone is standing at attention and following military protocol, but the general is shown to be asleep while standing up. This portrayal highlights the incompetence and indifference of the leadership, suggesting that they are out of touch with the reality of the soldiers' experiences.
The second verse continues to criticize the military hierarchy, with the officers not being satisfied with their current situation. However, their attempts to transmit commands and maintain control are undermined by the general's inaction. The line "Baboum badaboum rompez les rangs" reflects the dissatisfaction and frustration of the officers, as they order the soldiers to break formation.
The following lines describe a scene where toy soldiers are neatly arranged on the floor, representing the soldiers and different branches of the military. Despite their preparedness and willingness to fulfill their destinies, as mentioned in "Ils vont jouer leur destin," no orders or guidance are given by the general. This reinforces the critique of the military leadership and the idea that the soldiers are left directionless and unproductive.
The concluding lines introduce the figure of the Sandman ("Le marchand de sable"), who brings sleep and dreams. The lyrics "Dormez bien la lune luit / Général bonne nuit" suggest that it is time for the general to finally go to bed, implying that his sleepwalking or lack of action is no longer needed. This final verse further underscores the contrast between the soldiers' expectations of battle and the reality of a leader who is unresponsive and disconnected.
Overall, "Le Général Dort Debout" uses irony and satire to critique the incompetence of military leadership and question the purpose and consequences of war. The lyrics depict a scenario where soldiers are ready for action, but the general's inaction and indifference render their efforts futile. It serves as a commentary on the absurdity and tragedy of war, highlighting the discrepancy between the expectations of soldiers and the incompetence of those in command.
Line by Line Meaning
Rantanplan, pas de grande parade
No big parade, Rantanplan
Fermez le banc pas de mousquetade
Close the bench, no musket fire
Tout le monde au garde à vous
Everyone at attention
Mais le général dort debout
But the general is sleeping while standing
Les soldats il est pourtant vrai
The soldiers, it is indeed true
On avait dit qu′ils se battraient
We had said they would fight
On devait faire une jolie guerre
We were supposed to have a nice war
Mais le général dort debout
But the general is sleeping while standing
Les officiers ne sont pas content
The officers are not happy
Du colonel au sous-lieutenant
From the colonel to the lieutenant
Transmettent se commandement
Transmitting their command
Baboum badaboum rompez les rangs
Boom boom, break ranks
Regardez la tête penchée
Look at the tilted head
Il faut l'emmener se coucher
He must be taken to bed
Ce tantôt pas de héros
This afternoon, no heroes
Car le général fait dodo
Because the general is sleeping
Sur le plancher du salon
On the living room floor
Sont rangés les soldats de plomb
The lead soldiers are arranged
Fantassins et artilleurs
Infantry and artillery
Les cavaliers les sapeurs
The cavalry and sappers
Il vont jouer leur destin
They will play their fate
Pourtant aucun ordre ne vient
Yet no orders come
Rantanplan, pas de grande parade
No big parade, Rantanplan
Fermez le banc pas de mousquetade
Close the bench, no musket fire
Tout le monde au garde à vous
Everyone at attention
Mais le général dort debout
But the general is sleeping while standing
Les soldats il est pourtant vrai
The soldiers, it is indeed true
On avait dit qu′ils se battraient
We had said they would fight
On devait faire une jolie guerre
We were supposed to have a nice war
Mais le général dort debout
But the general is sleeping while standing
Les officiers ne sont pas content
The officers are not happy
Du colonel au sous-lieutenant
From the colonel to the lieutenant
Transmettent se commandement
Transmitting their command
Baboum badaboum rompez les rangs
Boom boom, break ranks
Regardez la tête penchée
Look at the tilted head
Il faut l'emmener se coucher
He must be taken to bed
Ce tantôt pas de héros
This afternoon, no heroes
Car le général fait dodo
Because the general is sleeping
Le marchand de sable vient
The sandman comes
Apportant le sommeil en ses mains
Bringing sleep in his hands
Dormez bien la lune luit
Sleep well, the moon shines
Général bonne nuit
General, good night
Writer(s): Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
Contributed by Alyssa P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.