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 philistins
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tandis que vous caressiez
Vos femmes
En songeant, aux petits
Que vos grossiers appétits
Engendrent
Menton rasé, ventre rond
Notaires"
Mais pour bien vous punir
Un jour vous voyez venir
Sur terre
Des enfants non voulus
Qui deviennent chevelus
Poètes
Vous pensiez, "Ils seront
Menton rasé, ventre rond
Notaires"
Mais pour bien vous punir
Un jour vous voyez venir
Sur terre
Des enfants non voulus
Qui deviennent chevelus
Poètes
Georges Brassens's song Les Philistins is a commentary on the bourgeois society and their narrow-mindedness. The term "Philistins" is used to refer to the bourgeois members of society, who are typically small shopkeepers or merchants. These people are portrayed as being uneducated and self-centered, focused solely on their own gratification while completely disconnected from the world around them.
The song criticizes the Philistins for their shortsightedness in thinking that their own children will grow up to become successful professionals or business owners like themselves, when, in reality, their own children might grow up to become the complete opposite. The line "Vous pensiez, 'Ils seront Menton rasé, ventre rond Notaires'" (You thought, 'They will be clean-shaven, with a round belly, notaries') is repeated throughout the song to illustrate the Philistins' narrow view of success.
Brassens's lyrics are also a commentary on the social class system and how it can hold people back from realizing their true potential. The last two lines of the song, "Des enfants non voulus Qui deviennent chevelus Poètes" (Unwanted children who become shaggy-haired poets), suggest that societal expectations can be limiting and that some individuals may reject the constraints placed upon them by society to pursue their own artistic or intellectual passions.
Line by Line Meaning
Philistins, épiciers
The singer refers to the bourgeoisie who are petty and unenlightened due to their preoccupation with material things, like owning a grocery store.
Tandis que vous caressiez Vos femmes
The singer emphasizes that the bourgeoisie indulge in pleasure while they avoid contemplating the potential implications of their actions.
En songeant, aux petits Que vos grossiers appétits Engendrent
The singer mocks the bourgeoisie in how they plan out their lives and future generations based on superficial desires, rather than thinking about long-term implications and consequences for future generations.
Vous pensiez, "Ils seront Menton rasé, ventre rond Notaires"
The bourgeoisie envision an ideal future for their offspring where they will become notaries, respected members of society with prosperity and privilege.
Mais pour bien vous punir Un jour vous voyez venir Sur terre
The artist suggests that the bourgeoisie are punished when their idealized future for their children does not come to fruition.
Des enfants non voulus Qui deviennent chevelus Poètes
The singer highlights the irony that the children who do not fit the bourgeoisie's idealized future for their offspring become poets, who do not conform to societal norms and values.
Vous pensiez, "Ils seront Menton rasé, ventre rond Notaires"
The singer repeats the bourgeoisie's earlier vision of their idealized future for their children, emphasizing how idealistic and naive their visions were.
Mais pour bien vous punir Un jour vous voyez venir Sur terre
The artist again suggests that the bourgeoisie are punished when their idealized future for their children does not come to fruition.
Des enfants non voulus Qui deviennent chevelus Poètes
The artist repeats how the children who do not fit the bourgeoisie's idealistic visions become poets, emphasizing the unexpected irony.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Charles Brassens, Jean Richepin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lumarz1475
Quelle voix merveilleuse et quel grand poète Brassens!!!!
@melodiechopin9652
Merci à toi cher poète et paix à ton âme !
@stephanecourtier8648
Il n y a plus d artiste comme ça de vrais contestataires tout est mort salut Georges
@pixot09
aux enfants non voulus qui deviennent chevelus ..poétes ..merci
@labeude7142
J'ai lu une analyse de la chanson qui est je trouve qu'une interprétation, car dans cette chanson il pourrait faire partie de ces chevelus poètes ( effectivement là; ce serait ses parents qui en prendraient un coup, fils de philistin....) sans méchanceté de sa part bien sûr .... " Des enfants non voulus, qui deviennent chevelus poètes" A son époque il était considéré comme Chevelu , mal vu au début et dans une interview je l'ai entendu dire que c'était un enfant non voulu...
(Comme beaucoup à cette époque... c'est pas le problème...) et bien que très respectueux de ses parents , les rapports qu'il avait avec sa mère (en tant que chanteur engagé ...) n'étaient pas mirobolants , d'ailleurs jamais ses parents ne sont allés le voir sur scène....
@labeude7142
PS; Et il disait dans ses rares interviews que sa mère aurait bien voulu qu'il fusse médecin, curé ou notaire....