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 bleu des bleuets
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Liserons et pâquerettes,
J'aim' le myrtes et le muguet,
Les lias et la primevère,
Mais la couleur que je préfère
C'est le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
Oh le velours brun des pensées,
Les lourds glaïeuls, le lis fluet,
L'or du soleil morne et sévère,
Mais la couleur que je préfère
C'est le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
Dans les blés blonds courons ma mie;
Avec une grâce endormie
Les bleuets font des menuets.
Mon amour les prit pour emblème
Et c'est mon propre amour que j'aime
Dans le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
The song Le bleu des bleuets by Georges Brassens is a celebration of the color blue, specifically the blue of the cornflower, or bleuet in French. The song describes the beauty of various flowers, including strawberries, daisies, myrtle, lilies, and primrose, but ultimately declares that the color he loves above all is the blue of the cornflower. The repeated refrain emphasizes this preference, suggesting that it is not just a passing fancy, but a deep and abiding love.
Beyond the simple celebration of a particular color, however, the song also carries a deeper emotional meaning. The mention of "fiancées" and "mon amour" suggests a romantic theme, and the final lines reveal that the cornflower has been adopted as a symbol of the singer's love. This personal connection imbues the song with a sense of nostalgia and longing, as well as a romantic and sentimental tone.
Overall, Le bleu des bleuets is a poignant and evocative song that celebrates the beauty of nature while also expressing a profound emotional connection to a particular flower and color.
Line by Line Meaning
Dans leurs fraises leurs collerettes
Among the strawberries and carnations
Liserons et pâquerettes,
Bindweed and daisies,
J'aim' le myrtes et le muguet,
I love myrtle and lily of the valley,
Les lias et la primevère,
Lilacs and primroses,
Mais la couleur que je préfère
But the color that I prefer
C'est le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
Is blue, the blue of cornflowers. {x2}
Oh le velours brun des pensées,
Oh, the brown velvet of pansies,
L'oranger blanc des fiancées,
The white orange of fiancées,
Les lourds glaïeuls, le lis fluet,
The heavy gladioli, the slender lilies,
L'or du soleil morne et sévère,
The gold of the dull and severe sun,
Mais la couleur que je préfère
But the color that I prefer
C'est le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
Is blue, the blue of cornflowers. {x2}
Dans les blés blonds courons ma mie;
Let's run in the blonde wheat fields, my darling;
Avec une grâce endormie
With a sleepy grace
Les bleuets font des menuets.
Cornflowers dance minuets.
Mon amour les prit pour emblème
My love took them as a symbol
Et c'est mon propre amour que j'aime
And it's my own love that I love
Dans le bleu, le bleu des bleuets. {x2}
In the blue, the blue of cornflowers. {x2}
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDMOND FELIX HARAUCOURT, MARCEL LEGAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind