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

Le Sceptique
Georges Brassens Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Imitant Courteline, un sceptique notoire,
Manifestant ainsi que l'on me désabuse,
J'ai des velléités d'arpenter les trottoir(e)s
Avec cette devise écrite à mon gibus :
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Dieu, diable, paradis, enfer et purgatoire,
Les bons récompensés et les méchants punis,

Et le corps du Seigneur dans le fond du ciboire,
Et l'huile consacrée comme le pain bénit,
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Et la bonne aventure et l'art divinatoire,
Les cartes, les tarots, les lignes de la main,
La clé des songes, le pendule oscillatoire,
Les astres indiquant ce que sera demain,
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Les preuves à l'appui, les preuves péremptoires,
Témoins dignes de foi, metteurs de mains au feu,
Et le respect de l'homme à l'interrogatoire,
Et les vérités vraies, les spontanés aveux,
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Le bagne, l'échafaud entre autres exutoires,
Et l'efficacité de la peine de mort,
Le criminel saisi d'un zèle expiatoire,
Qui bat sa coulpe bourrelé par le remords,
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Sur les tombeaux les oraisons déclamatoires,
Les : "C'était un bon fils, bon père, bon mari",
"Le meilleur d'entre nous et le plus méritoire",
"Un saint homme, un cœur d'or, un bel et noble esprit"
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Les "Saint-Jean bouche d'or", les charmeurs d'auditoire,
Les placements de sentiments de tout repos,
Et les billevesées de tous les répertoires,
Et les morts pour que naisse un avenir plus beau,
"Je ne crois pas un mot de toutes ces histoires."

Mais j'envie les pauvres d'esprit pouvant y croire.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Georges Brassens's song "Le Sceptique" express the disbelief of the singer, who imitates the famous skeptic Georges Courteline. He declares that he does not believe a word of all the stories in the world, including those about God, Devil, Paradise, Hell, and Purgatory. He also rejects divination arts, such as tarot cards, dream interpretation, and pendulum oscillations. The singer, ironically, confesses that he does not even believe the truth, the spontaneous confessions, or the material evidence.

The singer also disbelieves in the prison system and the effectiveness of the death penalty as a corrective measure. He rejects the hypocritical speeches and exaggerated praise for the deceased during funerals. The main character criticizes the manipulative speakers and the propaganda that twists people's feelings and incites violence. The song ends with the ironic admission that the singer envies the ignorant people that still believe in all these stories.

Line by Line Meaning

Imitant Courteline, un sceptique notoire,
In the manner of Courteline, a well-known skeptic,

Manifestant ainsi que l'on me désabuse,
Showing that I am disillusioned,

J'ai des velléités d'arpenter les trottoirs
I have the desire to roam the sidewalks

Avec cette devise écrite à mon gibus :
With this motto written on my top hat: