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
Si Le Bon Dieu L'Avait Voulu
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cléopâtre, et je t'aurais pas connue. J'aurais connu la Cléopâtre,
et je ne t'aurais pas connue. Sans ton amour que j'idolâtre, las !
que fussé-je devenu ?
Si le Bon Dieu l'avait voulu, j'aurais connu la Messaline, Agnès, Odette
et MĂ©lusine, et je ne t'aurais pas connue. J'aurais connu la Pompadour,
Noémi, Sarah, Rebecca, la Fille du Royal Tambour, et la Mogador et Clara.
Mais le Bon Dieu n'a pas voulu que je connaisse leurs amours, je t'ai
connue, tu m'as connu - gloire Ă Dieu au plus haut des nues ! - Las !
que fussé-je devenu sans toi la nuit, sans toi le jour ? Je t'ai connue,
tu m'as connu - gloire Ă Dieu au plus haut des nues !
In Georges Brassens's song "Si le Bon Dieu l'avait voulu", the singer contemplates the different paths his life could have taken if God had willed it differently. He begins by imagining that if God had willed it, he could have known Cleopatra instead of the person he's with now. He then goes on to list a series of other historical and fictional women he could have known, such as Messaline, Agnes, Odette, Pompadour, and others. However, he reflects that God didn't will it that way, and instead he knows the person he's with now. He feels grateful for this, acknowledging that without this person, he would be lost and directionless.
The song is a reflection on fate and the role of God in our lives. It highlights how our lives could have taken different turns if certain events had not occurred. However, it also emphasizes the importance of the people we meet and the relationships we form along the way. The song suggests that even though our lives may not be exactly as we imagined them, the people we love and who love us are ultimately what give our lives meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Si le Bon Dieu l'avait voulu - lanturette, lanturlu, - j'aurais connu la Cléopâtre, et je t'aurais pas connue.
If God had willed it, I would have known Cleopatra and not you.
J'aurais connu la Cléopâtre, et je ne t'aurais pas connue. Sans ton amour que j'idolâtre, las ! que fussé-je devenu ?
I would have known Cleopatra instead of you, but without your beloved love, what would I have become?
Si le Bon Dieu l'avait voulu, j'aurais connu la Messaline, Agnès, Odette et Mélusine, et je ne t'aurais pas connue.
If God had willed it, I would have known Messalina, Agnes, Odette and Melusine, and not you.
J'aurais connu la Pompadour, Noémi, Sarah, Rebecca, la Fille du Royal Tambour, et la Mogador et Clara.
I would have known Pompadour, Noemi, Sarah, Rebecca, the daughter of the Royal Drummer, as well as Mogador and Clara.
Mais le Bon Dieu n'a pas voulu que je connaisse leurs amours, je t'ai connue, tu m'as connu - gloire à Dieu au plus haut des nues ! - Las ! que fussé-je devenu sans toi la nuit, sans toi le jour ?
But God did not allow me to know their loves, I knew you, and you knew me - glory to God in the highest! - Alas! What would I have become without you at night or during the day?
Je t'ai connue, tu m'as connu - gloire Ă Dieu au plus haut des nues !
I knew you, and you knew me - glory to God in the highest!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Charles Brassens, Paul Jules Jean Fort
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve CLAPPING
🍀J'adore cette chanson composée à partir d'un poème de Paul Fort et qui va si bien à Georges Brassens. Souvent je me la fredonne et m'en amuse beaucoup, éprouvant un ressenti agréable comme pour beaucoup d'oeuvres de cet artiste singulier, merci.
Mr Random
Magnifique
Jean Michel
Merci!
Par si, par la
Merci Ă vous
camous joel
25 janvier 1961
Par si, par la
la date de diffusion est déjà indiquée dans la présentation. Merci de votre intérêt.
camous joel
c'est bien sûr chez vous que j'ai pris la date ,mais je voulais qu'elle soit plus visible ...la datation étant très importante pour moi ....
Par si, par la
Bien reçu . Bonne journée à vous !
Fred
N aurions nous donc le choix dans la date ?