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
Mourir pour des idées
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
L'idée est excellente
Moi j'ai failli mourir de ne l'avoir pas eue
Car tous ceux qui l'avaient
Multitude accablante
En hurlant à la mort me sont tombés dessus
Ils ont su me convaincre
Abjurant ses erreurs se rallie à leur foi
Avec un soupçon de réserve toutefois
Mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente
Jugeant qu'il n'y a pas
Péril en la demeure
Allons vers l'autre monde en flânant en chemin
Car, à forcer l'allure
Il arrive qu'on meure
Pour des idées n'ayant plus cours le lendemain
Or, s'il est une chose
Amère, désolante
En rendant l'âme à Dieu, c'est bien de constater
Qu'on a fait fausse route, qu'on s'est trompé d'idée
Mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente
Les Saint Jean bouche d'or
Qui prêchent le martyre
Le plus souvent d'ailleurs, s'attardent ici-bas
Mourir pour des idées
C'est le cas de le dire
C'est leur raison de vivre, ils ne s'en privent pas
Dans presque tous les camps
On en voit qui supplantent
Bientôt Mathusalem dans la longévité
J'en conclus qu'ils doivent se dire
En aparté, "mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente"
Des idées réclamant
Le fameux sacrifice
Les sectes de tout poil en offrent des séquelles
Et la question se pose
Aux victimes novices
Mourir pour des idées, c'est bien beau mais lesquelles?
Et comme toutes sont entre elles ressemblantes
Quand il les voit venir
Avec leur gros drapeau
Le sage, en hésitant
Tourne autour du tombeau, "mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente"
Encore s'il suffisait
De quelques hécatombes
Pour qu'enfin tout changeât, qu'enfin tout s'arrangeât
Depuis tant de "grands soirs" que tant de têtes tombent
Au paradis sur terre, on y serait déjà
Mais l'âge d'or sans cesse
Est remis aux calendes
Les Dieux ont toujours soif, n'en ont jamais assez
Et c'est la mort, la mort
Toujours recommencée, mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente
Ô vous, les boutefeux
Ô vous les bons apôtres
Mourez donc les premiers, nous vous cédons le pas
Mais de grâce, morbleu
Laissez vivre les autres
La vie est à peu près leur seul luxe ici-bas
Car, enfin, la Camarde
Est assez vigilante
Elle n'a pas besoin qu'on lui tienne la faux
Plus de danse macabre
Autour des échafauds, mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente
Georges Brassens's song Mourir pour des idées is a poignant critique of extremist beliefs and ideologies that necessitate martyrdom. The artist explains that he almost died due to his lack of faith in an idea that was so great that many died for it. However, when he decided to embrace the beliefs of the multitude and join their bandwagon, he did so with a bit of hesitation. His enthusiasm for the idea was clouded by his reservations about the dangers of blindly following something to the point of death. So he suggests that dying for an idea is okay, but it should not be a fast, violent death. It should be an unhurried death, a death that allows time to contemplate, and more importantly, the chance to correct mistakes made.
Brassens also remarks on the people who preach the message of martyrdom, the so-called 'Saint Jean bouche d'or,' who are willing to martyr themselves and their cause to prove their faith. The artist sees these people as being more interested in the idea of martyrdom than they are in the cause they claim to be fighting for. The song also criticizes various extremists and sects who are willing to carry out terrible acts of sacrifice in the name of a belief they believe to be necessary. The song suggests that there are no beliefs worth dying for and that life is precious enough to be allowed to go on.
Overall, Mourir pour des idées is a song that encourages thinking and reflection, discouraging violent extremism and blind faith in beliefs. The song encourages its listeners to engage in critical thinking and to avoid dogmatism in favor of a more diverse and inclusive worldview.
Line by Line Meaning
Mourir pour des idées
To die for ideas
L'idée est excellente
The idea is excellent
Moi j'ai failli mourir de ne l'avoir pas eue
I almost died for not having had it
Car tous ceux qui l'avaient
Because all those who had it
Multitude accablante
An overwhelming multitude
En hurlant à la mort me sont tombés dessus
Fell upon me, screaming for my death
Ils ont su me convaincre
They managed to convince me
Et ma muse insolente
And my insolent muse
Abjurant ses erreurs se rallie à leur foi
Abandoning its mistakes, joins their faith
Avec un soupçon de réserve toutefois
With a hint of reservation, however
Mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
Let's die for ideas, but slowly
Jugeant qu'il n'y a pas
Considering that there is no
Péril en la demeure
Danger in staying here
Allons vers l'autre monde en flânant en chemin
Let's go to the other world while strolling along the way
Car, à forcer l'allure
For, by forcing the pace
Il arrive qu'on meure
It happens that we die
Pour des idées n'ayant plus cours le lendemain
For ideas that will no longer be relevant tomorrow
Or, s'il est une chose
Now, if there is one thing
Amère, désolante
Bitter and saddening
En rendant l'âme à Dieu, c'est bien de constater
When giving up one's soul to God, it is to realize
Qu'on a fait fausse route, qu'on s'est trompé d'idée
That we went the wrong way, that we were mistaken
Les Saint Jean bouche d'or
The Saint Johns with golden mouths
Qui prêchent le martyre
Preaching martyrdom
Le plus souvent d'ailleurs, s'attardent ici-bas
Most often, linger here below
C'est le cas de le dire
It's the case to say
C'est leur raison de vivre, ils ne s'en privent pas
It's their reason for living, they don't deprive themselves of it
Dans presque tous les camps
In almost all camps
On en voit qui supplantent
We see some who outlast
Bientôt Mathusalem dans la longévité
Even surpass Methuselah in longevity
J'en conclus qu'ils doivent se dire
I conclude that they must tell themselves
En aparté, "mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente"
In private, "Let's die for ideas, but slowly"
Des idées réclamant
Ideas that require
Le fameux sacrifice
The famous sacrifice
Les sectes de tout poil en offrent des séquelles
All kinds of sects offer their consequences
Et la question se pose
And the question arises
Aux victimes novices
To novice victims
Mourir pour des idées, c'est bien beau mais lesquelles?
To die for ideas, it's all very well, but which ones?
Et comme toutes sont entre elles ressemblantes
And since all of them are similar to each other
Quand il les voit venir
When he sees them coming
Avec leur gros drapeau
With their big flag
Le sage, en hésitant
The wise man, hesitating
Tourne autour du tombeau, "mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
Walks around the grave, "Let's die for ideas, but slowly"
Encore s'il suffisait
If only it were enough
De quelques hécatombes
Of a few hecatombs
Pour qu'enfin tout changeât, qu'enfin tout s'arrangeât
For everything to finally change, for everything to finally be fixed
Depuis tant de "grands soirs" que tant de têtes tombent
Since so many "grand nights" when so many heads fall
Au paradis sur terre, on y serait déjà
If paradise on earth existed, we would already be there
Mais l'âge d'or sans cesse
But the golden age, constantly
Est remis aux calendes
Is postponed indefinitely
Les Dieux ont toujours soif, n'en ont jamais assez
The gods are always thirsty, never satisfied
Et c'est la mort, la mort
And it's death, death
Toujours recommencée
Always starting again
Ô vous, les boutefeux
Oh you, the hotheads
Ô vous les bons apôtres
Oh you, the good apostles
Mourez donc les premiers, nous vous cédons le pas
So die first, we give you the way
Mais de grâce, morbleu
But for pity's sake, damn it
Laissez vivre les autres
Let others live
La vie est à peu près leur seul luxe ici-bas
Life is almost their only luxury here on earth
Car, enfin, la Camarde
Because, finally, the Reaper
Est assez vigilante
Is vigilant enough
Elle n'a pas besoin qu'on lui tienne la faux
She doesn't need someone to hold the scythe for her
Plus de danse macabre
No more macabre dance
Autour des échafauds
Around the scaffold
Mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
Let's die for ideas, but slowly
D'accord, mais de mort lente
But slowly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edouard G
O vous, les boutefeux, ô vous les bons apôtres
Mourez donc les premiers, nous vous cédons le pas
Mais de grâce, morbleu! laissez vivre les autres!
La vie est à peu près leur seul luxe ici bas
Car, enfin, la Camarde est assez vigilante
Elle n'a pas besoin qu'on lui tienne la faux
Plus de danse macabre autour des échafauds!
Mourons pour des idées, d'accord, mais de mort lente
D'accord, mais de mort lente
stone apple
To die for your ideas. The idea is excellent
But I came close to dying for not having one,
For all those who had it, an overwhelming mass,
While howling for my blood came at me with full force.
They managed to convince me, and my insolent muse
Recanting her mistakes, rallies to their belief
With one tiny provisiono all the same
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow.
Judging that there's is no great risk in hanging on
Let us go to the other world taking our time
Because, forcing the pace, chance is that you might die
For ideas, no longer current on the morrow.
Now if there is a thing, bitter, and heart-breaking
On rendering one's soul to God, it's to find out
That you went wrong and latched onto the wrong idea.
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow.
The Saint John Chrysotoms (3) who preach for martyrdoms
Most often, besides, dawdle down here on earth.
To die for ideas, we are quite right to say so
Is their reason for living, they won't do without.
In almost all the groups, you see some supplanting
Soon Methuselah's record for longevity.
I conclude that they must whisper to each other:
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine !! But, let death come slow.
Ideas demanding the supreme sacrifice
Sects of every ilk offer followers of these
And the question is asked of the novice victims:
To die for ideas, is very nice - but which?
And as they are all alike, one with the other
When he sees them coming, with their great big standard
The wise man, hesitating, gives the tomb more time.
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow
Again, if it took only a few mass slaughters
For all at last to change, all at last be put right
Since so many grand nights when so many heads fell
In our heaven on earth we'd be already there
But the golden age is postponed constantly
The gods are still athirst, have never had enough
And it is death, death, over and over again
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow
Oh you firebrands, oh you the good apostles,
Be the first to die then, we stand aside for you.
But for mercy's sake, heavens! allow the rest to live.
Life is nearly their sole luxury down here
For in truth, the grim reaper keeps close enough watch enough
She does not need people to hold for her the scythe
No more dance macabre around the grim scaffolds
Let us die for ideas, fine! but let death come slow
Fine! But, let death come slow
Source : brassenswithenglish. blogspot. com
Jean-Jacques Tissot
Une Chanson qui n'est pas près de se démoder , surtout en ce moment !!! ♥♥♥
Les frères d et bill
Quelle homme ce grand Monsieur !!! Mélangeant amour, poésie, tromperie et bien d’autres, il est juste INCROYABLE !!!
charlotte angenoust
D’actualité plus que jamais ! Quel génie
Shadow Banning
Le génie est intemporel, car il se moque bien des coutumes et des modes. Le voilà qui se promène la fleur aux dents à travers champs, sentiers et chemins.
Regardez le flâner à travers époques, siècles, jours et saisons..
Il sent l' espace, le temps, l' amour.. et c' est bien à ça qu' on finit par le connaître un peu...
F. D.
"To die for ideas... OK, but of a slow death"
Brassens was such a genius.
Ghislain
@Alfred Forbes Sealy. He was very sick, go to deal with a generalized bowel cancer in last years of life. If it's a suicide, it's a comfort suicide. So stop dumb point.
john smith
@Ghislain The song has nothing to do with suicide, much less his own, as the song came out almost ten years before his cancer. It's about the meaninglessness of it fighting, killing, and dying for some nebulous "idea", and how those that initiate (and profit) from the countless senseless massacres committed in the name of some idea(ology) or another in history are NEVER the ones that actually fight (and die).
Ghislain
@john smith look, that was Alfred Forbes Sealy was talking about suicide. I comment for him. I remember, he said something like that : that's funny 'cause he killed himself.
Ghislain
@john smith et j'ai pas compris de quoi tu parlais dans ton commentaire. Quitte à écouter du Brassens, autant en causer en français, ce serait plus simple pour moi.
Renan Rodrigues
Il a une voix puissante. Très belle chanson, je suis vraiment content de l'avoir trouvée.
Salutations du Brésil à mes amis francophones!