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
Quand Un Vicomte
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rencontre un autre vicomte
Qu'est-ce qu'ils se racontent?
Des histoires de vicomtes
Quand un gendarme
Rencontre un autre gendarme
Qu'est-ce qu'ils les charment?
Chacun sur terre
Se fout, se fout
Des petites misères
De son voisin du dessous
Nos petites affaires
À nous, à nous
Nos petites affaires
C'est ce qui passe avant tout
Malgré tout ce qu'on raconte
Partout, partout
Qu'est-ce qui compte en fin de compte
Ce qui compte surtout c'est nous
Chacun sur terre
Se fout, se fout
Des petites misères
De son voisin du dessous
Quand un cul de jatte
Rencontre un autre cul de jatte
Rien ne les épate
Que des histoire de cul de jatte
Quand une bigote
Rencontre une autre bigote
Qu'est-ce qu'elles chuchotent?
Des histoires de bigotes
Chacun sur terre
Se fout, se fout
Des petites misères
De son voisin du dessous
Nos petites affaires
À nous, à nous
Nos petites affaires
C'est ce qui passe avant tout
Malgré tout ce qu'on raconte
Partout, partout
Qu'est-ce qui compte en fin de compte
Ce qui compte surtout c'est nous
Chacun sur terre
Se fout, se fout
Des petites misères
De son voisin du dessous
The lyrics to Georges Brassens's song "Quand Un Vicomte" can be interpreted as a commentary on human nature and the tendency for people to focus on their own interests and stories. The song begins by describing how when one viscount meets another viscount, they talk about stories concerning viscounts. Similarly, when one gendarme meets another gendarme, they charm each other with stories about gendarmes.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of indifference towards the problems faced by others. Each person on Earth disregards the trivial troubles of their neighbor below them. The verse continues by highlighting that everyone, regardless of their social position, is primarily concerned with their own personal matters. Despite the gossip and rumors spread everywhere, what truly matters in the end is the well-being and interests of oneself.
The following verses satirize different social groups. When two disabled individuals meet, whether they are "cul de jatte" (legless) or two pious women meet, they discuss stories related to their own specific circumstances. The song reinforces the idea that people are primarily self-centered and preoccupied with their own affairs rather than empathizing with the troubles of others.
In summary, "Quand Un Vicomte" illustrates human nature's inclination towards self-interest and indifference towards the problems faced by others. It suggests that each person prioritizes their own affairs and is more interested in storytelling that pertains to their own condition or social group.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand un vicomte
When a viscount
Rencontre un autre vicomte
Encounters another viscount
Qu'est-ce qu'ils se racontent?
What do they talk about?
Des histoires de vicomtes
Stories about viscounts
Quand un gendarme
When a policeman
Rencontre un autre gendarme
Meets another policeman
Qu'est-ce qu'ils les charment?
What do they charm each other with?
Des histoires de gendarmes
Stories about policemen
Chacun sur terre
Everyone on earth
Se fout, se fout
Doesn't care, doesn't care
Des petites misères
About the small misfortunes
De son voisin du dessous
Of their neighbor below
Nos petites affaires
Our own affairs
À nous, à nous
Belong to us, to us
C'est ce qui passe avant tout
That's what matters most
Malgré tout ce qu'on raconte
Despite all that is said
Partout, partout
Everywhere, everywhere
Qu'est-ce qui compte en fin de compte
What counts in the end
Ce qui compte surtout c'est nous
What matters most is us
Quand un cul de jatte
When a cripple
Rencontre un autre cul de jatte
Meets another cripple
Rien ne les épate
Nothing impresses them
Que des histoires de cul de jatte
Only stories about cripples
Quand une bigote
When a devout woman
Rencontre une autre bigote
Meets another devout woman
Qu'est-ce qu'elles chuchotent?
What do they whisper?
Des histoires de bigotes
Stories about devout women
Chacun sur terre
Everyone on earth
Se fout, se fout
Doesn't care, doesn't care
Des petites misères
About the small misfortunes
De son voisin du dessous
Of their neighbor below
Nos petites affaires
Our own affairs
À nous, à nous
Belong to us, to us
C'est ce qui passe avant tout
That's what matters most
Malgré tout ce qu'on raconte
Despite all that is said
Partout, partout
Everywhere, everywhere
Qu'est-ce qui compte en fin de compte
What counts in the end
Ce qui compte surtout c'est nous
What matters most is us
Chacun sur terre
Everyone on earth
Se fout, se fout
Doesn't care, doesn't care
Des petites misères
About the small misfortunes
De son voisin du dessous
Of their neighbor below
Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jean Nohain, Mireille
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind