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
Pauvre Martin
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avec, à la lèvre, un doux chant
Avec, à la lèvre, un doux chant
Avec, à l'âme, un grand courage
Il s'en allait trimer aux champs
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Creuse la terre, creuse le temps
Pour gagner le pain de sa vie
De l'aurore jusqu'au couchant
De l'aurore jusqu'au couchant
Il s'en allait bêcher la terre
En tous les lieux, par tous les temps
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Creuse la terre, creuse le temps
Sans laisser voir, sur son visage
Ni l'air jaloux ni l'air méchant
Ni l'air jaloux ni l'air méchant
Il retournait le champ des autres
Toujours bêchant, toujours bêchant
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Creuse la terre, creuse le temps
Et quand la mort lui a fait signe
De labourer son dernier champ
De labourer son dernier champ
Il creusa lui-même sa tombe
En faisant vite, en se cachant
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Creuse la terre, creuse le temps
Il creusa lui-même sa tombe
En faisant vite, en se cachant
En faisant vite, en se cachant
Et s'y étendit sans rien dire
Pour ne pas déranger les gens
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Dort sous la terre, dort sous le temps
The lyrics of Georges Brassens's song Pauvre Martin tell the story of a poor man named Martin who works as a manual laborer in the fields. He carries a shovel on his shoulder and sings a sweet song on his lips while he works from dawn until dusk to earn his daily bread. Despite facing many difficulties and challenges, Martin always faces his job with great courage and determination.
The song highlights the struggles of the working-class people who labor hard to make ends meet. Martin's story is a reminder that there are many people who work tirelessly to earn their livelihood and often remain invisible and unrecognized. His life also serves as a commentary on the social and economic inequality of his times, with the rich getting richer while the poor continue to struggle.
The refrain "Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère, creuse la terre, creuse le temps" (Poor Martin, poor misery, dig the earth, dig the time) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the monotony and hardship of Martin's life. However, the poem ends on a poignant note, as Martin digs his own grave, preferring not to trouble anyone, reflecting his humble and unassuming nature.
Overall, Brassens's song is a lament for the plight of the downtrodden, a celebration of the human spirit that persists in the face of the most challenging circumstances, and a tribute to the power of humility and self-effacement.
Line by Line Meaning
Avec une bêche à l'épaule
With a shovel on his shoulder
Avec, à la lèvre, un doux chant
With a sweet song on his lips
Avec, à l'âme, un grand courage
With great courage in his heart
Il s'en allait trimer aux champs
He went to work hard in the fields
Pauvre Martin, pauvre misère
Poor Martin, a miserable man
Creuse la terre, creuse le temps
Digging the earth, digging through time
Pour gagner le pain de sa vie
To earn his daily bread
De l'aurore jusqu'au couchant
From dawn until dusk
Il s'en allait bêcher la terre
He went to dig the earth
En tous les lieux, par tous les temps
In all places, in all weathers
Sans laisser voir, sur son visage
Without showing on his face
Ni l'air jaloux ni l'air méchant
Neither an envious nor a spiteful look
Il retournait le champ des autres
He worked on other people's land
Toujours bêchant, toujours bêchant
Always digging, always digging
Et quand la mort lui a fait signe
When death beckoned him
De labourer son dernier champ
To plow his final field
Il creusa lui-même sa tombe
He dug his own grave
En faisant vite, en se cachant
Hastily and in secret
Et s'y étendit sans rien dire
And laid himself down there without a word
Pour ne pas déranger les gens
So as not to disturb anyone
Dort sous la terre, dort sous le temps
Sleeps under the earth, sleeps under time
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Georges Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind