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 Vieux Léon
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que tu es parti au paradis d'l'accordéon
Parti bon train, voir si l'bastringue et la java
Avaient gardé droit de cité chez jéhovah
Quinze ans bientôt qu'musique au dos, tu t'en allais
Mener le bal à l'amicale des feux follets
En cet asile, par sainte-cécile, pardonne-nous
De n'avoir pas su faire cas de ton biniou
C'est une erreur mais les joueurs d'accordéon
Au grand jamais, on ne les met au panthéon
Mon vieux, tu as dû t'contener du champ de navets
Sans grandes pompes et sans pompons et sans ave
Mais les copains suivaient l'sapin, le cœur serré
En rigolant, pour faire semblant de n'pas pleurer
Et dans nos cœurs, pauvre joueur d'accordéon
Il fait ma foi, beaucoup moins froid qu'au panthéon
Depuis mon vieux, qu'au fond des cieux, tu as fait ton trou
Il a coulé de l'eau sous les ponts de chez nous
Les bons enfants d'la rue de vanves à la gaîté
L'un comme l'autre, au gré des flots, furent emportés
Mais aucun d'eux n'a fait fi de son temps jadis
Tous sont restés du parti des myosotis
Tous ces pierrots ont le cœur gros, mon vieux Léon
En entendant le moindre chant d'accordéon
Quel temps fait-il chez les gentils de l'au-delà
Les musiciens ont-ils enfin trouvé le la
Et le p'tit bleu, est-c'que ça n'le rend pas meilleur
D'être servi au sein des vignes du seigneur
Si d'temps en temps, une dame d'antan s'laisse embrasser
Sûrement papa, que tu regrettes pas d'être passé
Et si l'bon dieu aime tant soit peu l'accordéon
Au firmament, tu t'plais sûr'ment, mon vieux Léon
The song Le vieux Leon by Georges Brassens is a tribute to an accordion player who has passed away. The song talks about how the player, named Léon, left for heaven 15 years ago and how he had gone to see if accordion music still had a place in heaven. The song recognizes the player's importance in the community and how he had led dances and had played music with passion.
The song also addresses the fact that accordion players are not recognized as they should be, and how Léon had passed away without any fanfare, despite his contributions. The song mentions how his friends and fellow musicians had followed his casket with heavy hearts and how they have remained faithful to the music and the memories they shared. The lyrics also express a sense of wondering what it's like for Léon in heaven and if he is now enjoying the music amongst the company of other musicians. The song concludes by stating that if heaven loves accordion music, Léon is surely happy and content.
Line by Line Meaning
Y a tout à l'heure, quinze ans d'malheur, mon vieux Léon
Fifteen years ago today, my old friend Leon, you left us for accordion heaven.
Que tu es parti au paradis d'l'accordéon
You departed to the accordion heaven to continue playing your beloved instrument.
Parti bon train, voir si l'bastringue et la java
You left with excitement, eager to see if the lively music and dancing were still popular in heaven.
Avaient gardé droit de cité chez jéhovah
You wondered if these festive activities were still allowed in heaven.
Quinze ans bientôt qu'musique au dos, tu t'en allais
Almost fifteen years ago, with your accordion on your back, you departed from us.
Mener le bal à l'amicale des feux follets
You went to lead the dance at the club for the carefree and whimsical souls in heaven.
En cet asile, par sainte-cécile, pardonne-nous
In this sanctuary, with the blessings of Saint Cecilia, we ask for your forgiveness.
De n'avoir pas su faire cas de ton biniou
We apologize for not recognizing your accordion playing talent before you left us.
C'est une erreur mais les joueurs d'accordéon
It is a mistake that accordion players like you are not recognized for their art.
Au grand jamais, on ne les met au panthéon
Accordion players will never be celebrated in the same way as other revered artists.
Mon vieux, tu as dû t'contener du champ de navets
You had to settle for a modest resting place in the cemetery.
Sans grandes pompes et sans pompons et sans ave
There were no grand parades, flowers or prayers at your funeral.
Mais les copains suivaient l'sapin, le cœur serré
Your friends accompanied your coffin with a heavy heart.
En rigolant, pour faire semblant de n'pas pleurer
They laughed to hide their tears.
Et dans nos cœurs, pauvre joueur d'accordéon
In our hearts, dear accordion player, your memory lives on.
Il fait ma foi, beaucoup moins froid qu'au panthéon
In fact, it's much warmer than being celebrated in the Pantheon.
Depuis mon vieux, qu'au fond des cieux, tu as fait ton trou
Since you found your place in the heavens, my old friend.
Il a coulé de l'eau sous les ponts de chez nous
Things have changed a lot since you left us.
Les bons enfants d'la rue de vanves à la gaîté
People from the old neighborhood still love to share accordion music, from Rue de Vanves to La Gaite.
L'un comme l'autre, au gré des flots, furent emportés
Everyone's lives have gone in different directions since you left us.
Mais aucun d'eux n'a fait fi de son temps jadis
None of them forgot the good times of the past.
Tous sont restés du parti des myosotis
They all remained loyal to the memories of their youth.
Tous ces pierrots ont le cœur gros, mon vieux Léon
All of your old friends deeply miss you, my dear Leon.
En entendant le moindre chant d'accordéon
Whenever they hear the sound of an accordion, it reminds them of you.
Quel temps fait-il chez les gentils de l'au-delà
What is it like in heaven with the kind souls who reside there?
Les musiciens ont-ils enfin trouvé le la
Have the musicians finally found their perfect rhythm in heaven?
Et le p'tit bleu, est-c'que ça n'le rend pas meilleur
Is the wine better up there, and does it make the old memories sweeter?
D'être servi au sein des vignes du seigneur
To be served wine amongst the vineyards of the Lord.
Si d'temps en temps, une dame d'antan s'laisse embrasser
If an old flame allows herself to be kissed from time to time...
Sûrement papa, que tu regrettes pas d'être passé
You would surely cherish such moments, my dear departed friend.
Et si l'bon dieu aime tant soit peu l'accordéon
If God loves the accordion just a little bit...
Au firmament, tu t'plais sûr'ment, mon vieux Léon
Then surely you are enjoying yourself up there, my dear Leon.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Charles Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@argos4416
Quel génie du verbe. Magnifique chanson.
@marievaudan6547
Je connais cette chanson depuis longtemps… j’aime beaucoup l’accordéon, comme ma maman, aujourd’hui déjà disparue 🥹💐
@yannVenner
toujours excellent, cet ami Georges !
@c4uzi
Magnifique ne frôle même pas l'euphemisme...
@les3jedis
Avec toi autant de raison de croire à l' éternité du paradis qu' à l' éternité de la musique des "fous".
@Lunapinot
Che meraviglia questa canzone. Lo scrittore Fallet diceva che dovrebbe essere suonata ai funerali dei musicisti al posto dell'Avemaria
@ItzikGonen
יוצר ענק!!!
@twadoy
Voilà qui me donne l' espoir de durer ... mais sans le fil d' Ariane je me demande par quoi je serai accroché .... Sans doute autre chose qu' un fil .... Une chanson de Georges ?
@Aladin260
Mon bon Yacine, en neuf mois il y a bien de l'eau qui a coulé sous mon pont. Cordialement.
@mwilcrem2076
quand la poesie s impose tous s explique