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 petit cheval
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'il avait donc du courage
C'était un petit cheval blanc
Tous derrière, tous derrière
C'était un petit cheval blanc
Tous derrière et lui devant
Il n'y avait jamais de beau temps
Il n'y avait jamais de printemps
Ni derrière, ni derrière
Il n'y avait jamais de printemps
Ni derrière ni devant
Mais toujours il était content
Menant les gars du village
À travers la pluie noire des champs
Tous derrière, tous derrière
À travers la pluie noire des champs
Tous derrière et lui devant
Sa voiture allait poursuivant
Sa belle petite queue sauvage
C'est alors qu'il était content
Tous derrière, tous derrière
C'est alors qu'il était content
Tous derrière et lui devant
Mais un jour, dans le mauvais temps
Un jour qu'il était si sage
Il est mort par un éclair blanc
Tous derrière, tous derrière
Il est mort par un éclair blanc
Tous derrière et lui devant
Il est mort sans voir le beau temps
Qu'il avait donc du courage
Il est mort sans voir le printemps
Ni derrière, ni derrière
Il est mort sans voir le beau temps
Ni derrière ni devant
The song "Le petit cheval" by Georges Brassens tells the story of a small white horse who shows great bravery and courage in bad weather conditions, leading the men of the village through the dark and rainy fields, with everyone following him. Despite the constant bad weather and absence of any sign of spring, the little horse remained content and happy, with his beautiful wild tail wagging and his carriage chasing behind him. Unfortunately, one day, while being particularly well-behaved and obedient, the little horse was struck down by a white bolt of lightning, to the great sadness of all who followed him.
This song is a beautiful example of how music can convey emotions and tell a story through imagery and symbolism. The horse represents bravery and determination, qualities that are both admired and required in difficult times. The rain and dark landscapes symbolize the hardships of life, but also the beauty that can be found in adversity, thanks to the courage of those who face it. Lastly, the lightning that kills the little horse represents the inevitability of death, and reminds us to cherish and appreciate the courage and good-naturedness of those around us while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
Le petit cheval dans le mauvais temps
The small horse in bad weather
Qu'il avait donc du courage
Had a lot of courage despite the weather
C'était un petit cheval blanc
It was a small white horse
Tous derrière, tous derrière
Everyone was behind the horse
C'était un petit cheval blanc
It was a small white horse
Tous derrière et lui devant
Everyone else was following the horse
Il n'y avait jamais de beau temps
The weather was never nice
Dans ce pauvre paysage
In this poor landscape
Il n'y avait jamais de printemps
There was never any springtime
Ni derrière, ni derrière
No springtime behind the horse either
Il n'y avait jamais de printemps
There was never any springtime
Ni derrière ni devant
Neither behind nor in front of the horse
Mais toujours il était content
The horse was always happy
Menant les gars du village
Leading the village boys
À travers la pluie noire des champs
Through the black rain in the fields
Tous derrière, tous derrière
Everyone was still following behind
À travers la pluie noire des champs
Through the black rain in the fields
Tous derrière et lui devant
The horse was still leading the way
Sa voiture allait poursuivant
His carriage followed behind
Sa belle petite queue sauvage
With his beautiful wild tail
C'est alors qu'il était content
That's when the horse was the happiest
Tous derrière, tous derrière
Everyone was still following behind
C'est alors qu'il était content
That's when the horse was the happiest
Tous derrière et lui devant
The horse was still leading the way
Mais un jour, dans le mauvais temps
But one day, in the bad weather
Un jour qu'il était si sage
A day when the horse was so wise
Il est mort par un éclair blanc
He died by a white lightning bolt
Tous derrière, tous derrière
Everyone was following behind, but in mourning now
Il est mort par un éclair blanc
He died by a white lightning bolt
Tous derrière et lui devant
He still led the way even in death
Il est mort sans voir le beau temps
He died without seeing the good weather
Qu'il avait donc du courage
The horse had so much courage
Il est mort sans voir le printemps
He died without seeing the springtime
Ni derrière, ni derrière
No spring for him behind the horse
Il est mort sans voir le beau temps
He died without seeing the good weather
Ni derrière ni devant
Neither behind nor in front of the horse
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Georges Brassens, Paul Jules Jean Fort
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DENINO
Je ne suis pas un adepte de la réincarnation mais je sais qu'il y a quelque chose en moi de ce petit cheval ...
C'est ça le génie de Brassens
Dans toutes ses magnifiques chansons on se retrouve à ressentir ce que l'on a vécu dans sa vie
Je souhaiterais à l'automne de ma vie finir comme ce petit cheval...
Fatigué d'avoir plus que tout donné dans le mauvais temps aux gars du village qui n'ont rien compris .
Tu sais Georges je serais très heureux un jour de te rejoindre par un éclair blanc ...
Merci mon cher Georges ❤
Lady Dje
Merci pour le partage 💚
Anne Salles
👍
°Artakie°
Pauvre petit cheval branc
rémi
de Paul Fort.
°Artakie°
?
rémi
@°Artakie° "Le petit cheval blanc" est un poème de Paul Fort, que Georges Brassens aimait bien à mettre en musique.
"il faut nous aimer vivant"
"À Mireille dite "petit verglas"
"La marine"
"Si le bon Dieu l'avait voulu "
"GERMAINE TOURANGELLE"
"L'enterrement de Verlaine "
et probablement d'autres mais difficile du fait que de nos jours les auteurs compositeurs sont souvent oubliés et on retrouve des textes attribués à des interprètes alors qu'ils viennent d' auteurs soit d e chansons soit de poésie.
Oui j'aurais pu m'étaler un peu plus .
°Artakie°
@rémi oh d'accord ! Merci pour l'explication.