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
Les Croix
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Croix de bois, croix de fer
Humbles croix familières
Petites croix d'argent
Pendues sur les poitrines
Vieilles croix de couvent
Perdues parmi les ruines
J'ai ma croix dans la tête
L'immense croix de plomb
Vaste comme l'amour
J'y accroche le vent
J'y retiens la tempête
J'y prolonge le soir
Et j'y cache le jour
Et moi, pauvre de moi
J'ai ma croix dans la tête
Un mot y est gravé
Qui ressemble à "souffrir"
Mais ce mot familier
Que mes lèvres répètent
Est si lourd à porter
Que j'en pense mourir
Mon Dieu, qu'il y en a sur les routes profondes
De silencieuses croix qui veillent sur le monde
Hautes croix du pardon
Tendues vers les potences
Croix de la déraison
Ou de la délivrance
Mais moi, pauvre de moi
J'ai ma croix dans la tête
L'immense croix de plomb
Vaste comme l'amour
J'y accroche le vent
J'y retiens la tempête
J'y prolonge le soir
Et j'y cache le jour
Mais moi, pauvre de moi
J'ai ma croix dans la tête
Un nom y est gravé
Qui ressemble à "souffrir"
Mais ce nom familier
Que mes lèvres répètent
Est si lourd à porter
Que j'en pense mourir
In Georges Brassens's song "Les Croix," the singer reflects on the prevalence of crosses in the world. He notes the many different types of crosses, from wooden crosses to crosses of iron, small silver crosses to old crosses found in ruins or worn by nuns. However, he also admits that he carries his own cross in his mind, a heavy burden that he can't seem to shake. His cross is vast like love, made of lead and inscribed with a word that resembles "suffering." This word is so difficult to bear that he feels like he might die from the weight.
Throughout the song, the singer contrasts his own personal cross with the crosses he sees in the world. He suggests that there are many different types of crosses, some of which offer forgiveness, some of which represent madness or deliverance, and others that simply watch over the world in silence. Despite this, the singer seems to feel alone in his suffering, as if his personal cross is unique and burdensome. His words convey a sense of isolation and despair, as he struggles to carry this weight on his own.
Overall, "Les Croix" is a poignant reflection on the human experience of suffering. Through his exploration of the various types of crosses, Brassens highlights the universal nature of this experience, as well as the profound and isolating effects it can have on the individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Mon Dieu qu'il y en a des croix sur cette terre
There are so many crosses on this earth, oh my God.
Croix de bois, croix de fer
Wooden crosses, iron crosses.
Humbles croix familières
Humble, familiar crosses.
Petites croix d'argent
Small silver crosses.
Pendues sur les poitrines
Hung on the chests.
Vieilles croix de couvent
Old crosses from the convent.
Perdues parmi les ruines
Lost among the ruins.
Et moi, pauvre de moi
And me, poor me.
J'ai ma croix dans la tête
I have my cross in my head.
L'immense croix de plomb
The immense lead cross.
Vaste comme l'amour
As vast as love.
J'y accroche le vent
I hang the wind on it.
J'y retiens la tempête
I hold back the storm on it.
J'y prolonge le soir
I extend the evening on it.
Et j'y cache le jour
And I hide the day on it.
Un mot y est gravé
A word is engraved on it.
Qui ressemble à "souffrir"
That looks like "suffering".
Mais ce mot familier
But this familiar word.
Que mes lèvres répètent
That my lips repeat.
Est si lourd à porter
Is so heavy to bear.
Que j'en pense mourir
That I think I could die from it.
Mon Dieu, qu'il y en a sur les routes profondes
Oh my God, there are so many on the deep roads.
De silencieuses croix qui veillent sur le monde
Silent crosses that watch over the world.
Hautes croix du pardon
Tall crosses of forgiveness.
Tendues vers les potences
Stretched towards the gallows.
Croix de la déraison
Crosses of madness.
Ou de la délivrance
Or of deliverance.
Un nom y est gravé
A name is engraved on it.
Qui ressemble à "souffrir"
That looks like "suffering".
Mais ce nom familier
But this familiar name.
Que mes lèvres répètent
That my lips repeat.
Est si lourd à porter
Is so heavy to bear.
Que j'en pense mourir
That I think I could die from it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gilbert Francois Leopold Becaud, Louis Jean Mathieu Amade
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind