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 les Cons Sont Braves
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je n'ai rien du penseur, du phénix, du génie.
Mais je n' suis pas le mauvais bougre et j'ai bon c?ur,
Et ça compense à la rigueur.
{Refrain:}
Quand les cons sont braves
Comme moi,
Comme nous,
Comme vous,
Ce n'est pas très grave.
Qu'ils commettant,
Se permettent
Des bêtises,
Des sottises,
Qu'ils déraisonnent,
Ils n'emmerdent personne.
Par malheur sur terre
Les trois quarts
Des tocards
Sont des gens
Très méchants,
Des crétins sectaires.
Ils s'agitent,
Ils s'excitent,
Ils s'emploient,
Ils déploient
Leur zèle à la ronde,
Ils emmerdent tout l' monde.
Si le sieur X était un lampiste ordinaire,
Il vivrait sans histoir's avec ses congénères.
Mais hélas ! il est chef de parti, l'animal :
Quand il débloque, ça fait mal !
{Refrain}
Si le sieur Z était un jobastre sans grade,
Il laisserait en paix ses pauvres camarades.
Mais il est général, va-t-en-guerr', matamore.
Dès qu'il s'en mêle, on compt' les morts.
{Refrain}
Mon Dieu, pardonnez-moi si mon propos vous fâche
En mettant les connards dedans des peaux de vaches,
En mélangeant les genr's, vous avez fait d' la terre
Ce qu'elle est : une pétaudière !
{Refrain}
The lyrics of Georges Brassens's song "Quand les Cons Sont Braves" talk about stupidity and its consequences. The singer admits that he is not a genius or a great thinker, but he has a good heart. He believes that when stupid people are harmless and don't bother anyone, it's not a big deal. However, unfortunately, most stupid people are also mean and hateful, and they often cause trouble for others. The song provides examples of how some people with power and influence can cause harm when they let their stupidity and arrogance get the best of them.
The refrain repeats the message that stupid people can be tolerated when they are harmless, but when they have power and influence, they can cause a lot of harm. The message of the song is that we should not ignore the consequences of stupidity, especially when it is combined with arrogance and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Sans être tout à fait un imbécile fini,
Although I'm not entirely stupid,
Je n'ai rien du penseur, du phénix, du génie.
I possess none of the qualities of a great thinker, a phoenix, or a genius.
Mais je n' suis pas le mauvais bougre et j'ai bon cœur,
Nevertheless, I'm not a bad person, and I have a good heart.
Et ça compense à la rigueur.
Which, all things considered, more than makes up for my shortcomings.
{Refrain:} Quand les cons sont braves
When fools are brave,
Comme moi, Comme toi, Comme nous, Comme vous,
Like me, like you, like us, like you,
Ce n'est pas très grave.
It's not that important.
Qu'ils commettant, Se permettent Des bêtises, Des sottises,
Let them commit, allow them to make mistakes, silly mistakes,
Qu'ils déraisonnent, Ils n'emmerdent personne.
Let them act irrationally; they don't bother anyone.
Par malheur sur terre Les trois quarts Des tocards Sont des gens Très méchants, Des crétins sectaires.
Unfortunately, three-quarters of fools in the world are also very mean, narrow-minded idiots.
Ils s'agitent, Ils s'excitent, Ils s'emploient, Ils déploient Leur zèle à la ronde, Ils emmerdent tout l' monde.
They stir and excite themselves, put their energy into things, spread their enthusiasm to all, and annoy everyone.
Si le sieur X était un lampiste ordinaire,
If Mr. X were a regular laborer,
Il vivrait sans histoir's avec ses congénères.
He would live without incident with his peers.
Mais hélas! il est chef de parti, l'animal :
But alas! He's the leader of a political party, the rascal:
Quand il débloque, ça fait mal !
When he messes up, it hurts!
{Refrain}
Si le sieur Z était un jobastre sans grade,
If Mr. Z were an ordinary fool,
Il laisserait en paix ses pauvres camarades.
He would leave his poor comrades in peace.
Mais il est général, va-t-en-guerr', matamore.
But he's a general, a war-mongering, braggart.
Dès qu'il s'en mêle, on compt' les morts.
Whenever he's involved, the death toll rises.
{Refrain}
Mon Dieu, pardonnez-moi si mon propos vous fâche
My God, forgive me if my words upset you
En mettant les connards dedans des peaux de vaches,
By putting idiots in cow hides
En mélangeant les genr's, vous avez fait d' la terre
By mixing genders, you've made the Earth
Ce qu'elle est : une pétaudière !
What it is: a chaotic mess!
{Refrain}
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORGES CHARLES BRASSENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Charlyne - Les Opportunistes
Cette chanson en ce moment... Elle fait tellement du bien.
Jaime Humberto Ribeiro Saldanha
Bien chanté et bien joué le bas-continuous! Bravo les copains!
Fabrice Deslias
" ça ose tout les cons , c est même à ça qu on les reconnait !!!" ( audiart par lino venture !...).
Ah comme vous nous manquez !
Merci ! À diffuser en boucle sur BFM !!😉
pascal foucault
Trop cool tes chansons
Bruno decout
le grand georges etait visionnaire et surtout pas un mouton!
Jean-François manu
Chanson posthume par bertola le "jean" des copains d'abord.. chanteur des années 50 70 et directeur artistique de brassens et ami intime... assis à la gauche de gb
francis reverdy
Merci pour l'info 😉
Jack.F Laborde
Chanson très d'actualité
Anthony Bochert
Exact Jack. :) Comme toutes les lettres de notre ami Georges ;)
Anthony Bochert
PLus que jamais Jack :)