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 Croquants
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Acheter des pucelles aux saintes bonnes gens
Les croquants leur mettent à prix d'argent
La main dessus, la main dessous
Mais la chair de Lisa, la chair fraîche de Lison
Que les culs cousus d'or se fassent une raison
C'est pour la bouche du premier venu
Qui a les yeux tendres et les mains nues
Les croquants, ça les attriste
Ça les étonne, les étonne
Qu'une fille, une fille belle comme ça
S'abandonne, s'abandonne
Au premier ostrogoth venu
Les croquants, ça tombe des nues
Les filles de bonnes mœurs, les filles de bonne vie
Qui ont vendu leur fleurette à la foire à l'encan
Vont s'vautrer dans la couche des croquants
Quand les croquants en ont envie
Mais la chair de Lisa, la chair fraîche de Lison
Que les culs cousus d'or se fassent une raison
N'a jamais accordé ses faveurs
À contre-sous, à contrecœur
Les croquants, ça les attriste
Ça les étonne, les étonne
Qu'une fille, une fille belle comme ça
S'abandonne, s'abandonne
Au premier ostrogoth venu
Les croquants, ça tombe des nues
Les filles de bonne vie ont le cœur consistant
Et la fleur qu'on y trouve est garantie longtemps
Comme les fleurs en papier des chapeaux
Les fleurs en pierre des tombeaux
Mais le cœur de Lisa, le grand cœur de Lison
Aime faire peau neuve avec chaque saison
Jamais deux fois la même couleur
Jamais deux fois la même fleur
Les croquants, ça les attriste
Ça les étonne, les étonne
Qu'une fille, une fille belle comme ça
S'abandonne, s'abandonne
Au premier ostrogoth venu
Les croquants, ça tombe des nues
The song "Les croquants" by Georges Brassens addresses the topic of prostitution in the countryside during the 18th and 19th centuries. The croquants, a term used to describe poor peasants who were often involved in uprisings against nobility, are portrayed as men who ride to town on their meager savings to purchase sexual favors from young women who have been forced into selling their bodies due to poverty. The song illustrates how the croquants found it surprising that women of such beauty and grace could so easily stand apart with their virtue, and contrastingly indulge in the very acts that degraded their moral standing in society.
The main thrust of the song is how the croquants express their surprise at the behaviour of the young women who sell their bodies; they expect them to be virtuous, and when they observe otherwise, they are stunned. However, the song also highlights the double standards of society, in which it is acceptable for some categories of women, such as "les filles de bonne vie" or "girls of good life," to profit from selling sex, but not for young women from poor families. Brassens seems to be making a point about society's hypocrisies regarding sexuality - on one hand, the croquants and society as a whole devale some women for selling sex, yet on the other hand they do not provide any visible means of support for these young women to live on.
Line by Line Meaning
Les croquants vont en ville, à cheval sur leurs sous
The wealthy peasants are heading into town on horseback, carrying their wealth with them.
Acheter des pucelles aux saintes bonnes gens
To purchase the virginity of young girls from the holy, righteous people in exchange for money.
Les croquants leur mettent à prix d'argent
The wealthy peasants are willing to pay a significant amount of money for the virginity of these girls.
La main dessus, la main dessous
Deals are made with handshakes.
Mais la chair de Lisa, la chair fraîche de Lison
However, the fresh bodies of Lisa and Lison are not for sale to the wealthy peasants.
Que les culs cousus d'or se fassent une raison
Even those with gold-plated rear ends should come to terms with the fact that Lisa and Lison are not for sale.
C'est pour la bouche du premier venu
Their bodies are reserved for any kind, gentle-hearted person who desires them.
Qui a les yeux tendres et les mains nues
Someone who is soft-hearted and genuine, not carrying stacks of cash.
Les croquants, ça les attriste
These wealthy peasants are saddened and surprised by this fact.
Ça les étonne, les étonne
They cannot believe it.
Qu'une fille, une fille belle comme ça
That a beautiful girl like Lisa or Lison,
S'abandonne, s'abandonne
Would freely give herself to anyone.
Au premier ostrogoth venu
To even the lowest of people.
Les croquants, ça tombe des nues
These wealthy peasants are in utter disbelief.
Les filles de bonnes mœurs, les filles de bonne vie
Women who are well-mannered and virtuous.
Qui ont vendu leur fleurette à la foire à l'encan
Who have sold their virginity at a public auction.
Vont s'vautrer dans la couche des croquants
Will lie in the beds of the wealthy peasants.
Quand les croquants en ont envie
Whenever the wealthy peasants fancy them.
N'a jamais accordé ses faveurs
However, ladies like Lisa and Lison have never given themselves in to anyone else.
À contre-sous, à contrecœur
Not for any amount of money, and certainly not unwillingly.
Les filles de bonne vie ont le cœur consistant
Women of good values have strong, solid hearts.
Et la fleur qu'on y trouve est garantie longtemps
Their purity is guaranteed to last a long time.
Comme les fleurs en papier des chapeaux
Like paper flowers found in hats,
Les fleurs en pierre des tombeaux
Or even flowers carved out of stone in cemeteries.
Mais le cœur de Lisa, le grand cœur de Lison
However, Lisa and Lison's hearts are constantly evolving, like the changing of seasons.
Aime faire peau neuve avec chaque saison
They enjoy starting anew with every new season that comes along.
Jamais deux fois la même couleur
Never the exact same color twice.
Jamais deux fois la même fleur
And never the exact same flower twice either.
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephane Simonnet
Quand on est jeune, on ne comprends pas le fonds,puis avec l'âge, les malheurs vous rendent plus sensible.
CQFD.
Frédérique Thomas
J'apprends ça en music c'est moyen ma profe de music a une voix éclater par rapport a la sienne jsuis en 5.2 collège marcel pagnol. Jmappelle Sébastien
Cat Royer
L auvergnat