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 vent
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, prudence prends garde à ton jupon
Si, par hasard
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud, prudent prends garde à ton chapeau
Les jean-foutre et les gens probes
Qui rebrousse les bois, détrousse les toits, retrousse les robes
Des jean-foutre et des gens probes
Le vent, je vous en réponds
S'en soucie, et c'est justice, comme de colin-tampon
Si, par hasard
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, prudence prends garde à ton jupon
Si, par hasard
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud, prudent prends garde à ton chapeau
Bien sûr, si l'on ne se fonde
Que sur ce qui saute aux yeux
Le vent semble une brute raffolant de nuire à tout l'monde
Mais une attention profonde
Prouve que c'est chez les fâcheux
Qu'il préfère choisir les victimes de ses petits jeux
Si, par hasard
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, prudence prends garde à ton jupon
Si, par hasard
Sur l'Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud, prudent prends garde à ton chapeau
Georges Brassens's song "Le vent" warns people about the mischievous and sometimes destructive nature of the wind. The lyrics advise people to be careful with their clothes and hats when walking on the Pont des Arts, as the wind can be playful and mischievous. While the wind can tear up the woods and roofs, it can also lift up dresses and hats. The song suggests that the wind is an equal opportunity offender - it does not discriminate between Jean-foutre (good-for-nothing people) and gens probes (honest people).
However, the song also suggests that the wind is not solely responsible for its actions, but rather its victims are those who attract its attention. While it may appear to be arbitrary, a closer examination reveals that the wind chooses its victims among the grumpy and ill-tempered. The song's lyrics advise people to be more like the wind, blowing where they please, unconcerned with the opinions of others.
One of the themes of this song is freedom, and it is one of the many songs by Georges Brassens that emphasizes individualism and nonconformity. The song's playful and humorous lyrics demonstrate Brassens's unique style of combining satire, humor, and social commentary in his music. The song also highlights the beauty and power of nature, while challenging people to embrace the forces that act beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
Si, par hasard
If by chance
Sur l'Pont des Arts
On the Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, prudence prends garde à ton jupon
If you come across the mischievous wind, be careful of your skirt
Si, par hasard
If by chance
Sur l'Pont des Arts
On the Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud, prudent prends garde à ton chapeau
If you come across the thieving wind, be careful of your hat
Les jean-foutre et les gens probes
The slackers and the honest people
Médisent du vent furibond
Speak ill of the furious wind
Qui rebrousse les bois, détrousse les toits, retrousse les robes
Who turns the woods around, strips the roofs, flips up the dresses
Des jean-foutre et des gens probes
Of the slackers and the honest people
Le vent, je vous en réponds
The wind, I assure you
S'en soucie, et c'est justice, comme de colin-tampon
Cares about them, and it's only fair, like about nothing
Bien sûr, si l'on ne se fonde
Of course, if one only goes by
Que sur ce qui saute aux yeux
What jumps out at you
Le vent semble une brute raffolant de nuire à tout l'monde
The wind seems like a brute who loves to harm everyone
Mais une attention profonde
But careful observation
Prouve que c'est chez les fâcheux
Proves that among the troublesome people
Qu'il préfère choisir les victimes de ses petits jeux
He prefers to choose the victims of his little games
Si, par hasard
If by chance
Sur l'Pont des Arts
On the Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, prudence prends garde à ton jupon
If you come across the mischievous wind, be careful of your skirt
Si, par hasard
If by chance
Sur l'Pont des Arts
On the Pont des Arts
Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud, prudent prends garde à ton chapeau
If you come across the thieving wind, be careful of your hat
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arnaudlamure8041
Merci à vous, je souhaite vous féliciter pour votre travail. Toujous sur le sujet des reprises du Vent (le Pont des Arts) de Brassens. Pouvez-vous me donner votre avis sur cette vidéo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlU1LqRfgtk Je pense que ça pourrait vous plaire. Cordialement
@HxhXnin9e
ça ne manque pas de charme
@laffreuxdada
Le vent est universel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa2Es_OcViA