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
Tonton Nestor
Georges Brassens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vous eûtes tort
Je vous le dis tout net
Vous avez mis
La zizanie
Aux noces de Jeannett'
Je vous l'avoue
Tonton, vous vous
Mufle achevé
Rustre fieffé
Un homme du commun
Quand la fiancée
Les yeux baissés
Des larmes pleins les cils
S'apprêtait à
Dire "Oui da !"
A l'officier civil
Qu'est-c'qui vous prit
Vieux malappris
D'aller, sans retenue
Faire un pinçon
Cruel en son
Eminence charnue
Se retournant
Incontinent
Ell' souffleta, flic-flac
L'garçon d'honneur
Qui, par bonheur
Avait un' tête à claqu'
Mais au lieu du
"Oui" attendu
Ell' s'écria : "Maman"
Et l'mair' lui dit
"Non, mon petit
Ce n'est pas le moment"
Quand la fiancée
Les yeux baissés
D'une voix solennell'
S'apprêtait à
Dire "Oui da !"
Par-devant l'Eternel
Voila mechef
Que, derechef
Vous osâtes porter
Votre fichue
Patte crochue
Sur sa rotondité
Se retournant
Incontinent
Elle moucha le nez
D'un enfant d'chœur
Qui, par bonheur
Etait enchifrené
Mais au lieu du
"Oui" attendu
De sa pauvre voix lass'
Au tonsuré
Désemparé
Elle a dit "Merde", hélas
Quoiqu'elle usât
Qu'elle abusât
Du droit d'être fessue
En la pinçant
Mauvais plaisant
Vous nous avez déçus
Aussi, ma foi
La prochain' fois
Qu'on mariera Jeannett'
On s'pass'ra d'vous
Tonton, je vous
Je vous le dit tout net
In this song, "Tonton Nestor," Georges Brassens sings about a wedding that went awry due to the uncouth behavior of an uncle named Nestor. Brassens addresses Nestor directly, admonishing him for causing trouble and stirring up discord. Specifically, at the moment when the bride was about to say "I do" to the civil officer, Nestor rudely pinched her derriere, causing her to slap the young man next to her and shout "Maman" instead of the expected "oui." When the bride raised her eyes for the second time to say "I do" before God, Nestor once again made a crude gesture, causing her to shout "Shit" instead.
This song is full of imagery and wordplay. The title, for example, is a play on words, as "Tonton" means "uncle" but can also mean "naive person," while "Nestor" is a reference to Homer's "Odyssey," in which Nestor is a wise old counselor. Brassens uses a mix of formal and informal language, combining the formal "vous" with the more colloquial "tu" to address Nestor. He also uses a number of euphemisms to describe Nestor's pinching, referring to his "fichue patte crochue" (cursed crooked paw) and his "eminence charnue" (fleshy prominence). Overall, the song is a comic commentary on social conventions and the ways in which ill-mannered individuals can disrupt even the most carefully planned events.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonton Nestor
Georges is addressing Tonton Nestor.
Vous eûtes tort
Georges is telling Tonton Nestor that he was wrong.
Je vous le dis tout net
Georges is being frank with Tonton Nestor.
Vous avez mis
Georges is accusing Tonton Nestor of causing trouble.
La zizanie
Georges means that Tonton Nestor caused chaos and conflict.
Aux noces de Jeannett'
Georges is specifically talking about Jeanette's wedding.
Je vous l'avoue
Georges is admitting that Tonton Nestor's behavior was unacceptable.
Tonton, vous vous
Georges is calling out Tonton Nestor by name.
Comportâtes comme un
Georges is criticizing Tonton Nestor's behavior.
Mufle achevé
Georges is saying that Tonton Nestor acted like a complete boor.
Rustre fieffé
Georges is calling Tonton Nestor a stubborn, uncultured person.
Un homme du commun
Georges is suggesting that Tonton Nestor is common and unrefined.
Quand la fiancée
Georges is describing a specific moment during Jeanette's wedding.
Les yeux baissés
Georges is describing Jeanette's demeanor during the wedding.
Des larmes pleins les cils
Georges is saying that Jeanette was crying.
S'apprêtait à
Georges is saying that Jeanette was preparing to do something.
Dire "Oui da !"
Jeanette was preparing to say 'yes' to the civil officer.
A l'officier civil
Georges is indicating that Jeanette was addressing the civil officer.
Qu'est-c'qui vous prit
Georges is asking Tonton Nestor why he did what he did.
Vieux malappris
Georges calls Tonton Nestor 'old' and 'ill-mannered'.
D'aller, sans retenue
Georges is suggesting that Tonton Nestor did what he did without thinking.
Faire un pinçon
Georges is describing Tonton Nestor's behavior as deliberately cruel.
Cruel en son
Georges is emphasizing how cruel Tonton Nestor's behavior was.
Eminence charnue
Georges is being sarcastic about Tonton Nestor's behavior.
Se retournant
Georges is describing what Jeanette did next.
Incontinent
Georges is saying Jeanette immediately acted.
Ell' souffleta, flic-flac
Georges describes how Jeanette slapped Tonton Nestor.
L'garçon d'honneur
Georges is talking about the best man.
Qui, par bonheur
Georges is saying luckily the best man had a face that deserved a slap, i.e. a slap-able face.
Avait un' tête à claqu'
Georges is describing the face of the best man as one that deserves a slap.
Mais au lieu du
Georges is indicating that Jeanette did something other than what was expected.
"Oui" attendu
Georges is describing how Jeanette should have said yes to the civil officer.
Ell' s'écria : "Maman"
Jeanette called out for her mother.
Et l'mair' lui dit
The mother spoke to Jeanette.
"Non, mon petit
The mother said, 'No, my child...'
Ce n'est pas le moment"
The mother indicated that it was not the right time to say 'yes.'
D'une voix solennell'
Georges is describing how Jeanette's voice had a serious tone.
Par-devant l'Eternel
Georges is indicating that Jeanette was getting married in front of God.
Voila mechef
Georges is saying that Tonton Nestor caused more trouble.
Que, derechef
Georges is saying that Tonton Nestor did it again, even worse this time.
Vous osâtes porter
Georges is saying that Tonton Nestor dared to touch Jeanette during her wedding.
Votre fichue
Georges is indicating that Tonton Nestor's touch was unwelcome.
Patte crochue
Georges is critiquing Tonton Nestor's behavior again.
Sur sa rotondité
Georges is indicating that Tonton Nestor touched Jeanette's round body inappropriately.
Se retournant
Georges again describes how Jeanette acted in response to Tonton Nestor's behavior.
Incontinent
Jeanette acted immediately.
Elle moucha le nez
Jeanette punished Tonton Nestor for his behavior again.
D'un enfant d'chœur
Georges is talking about a choirboy.
Qui, par bonheur
Georges is saying the choirboy happened to have a runny nose.
Etait enchifrené
The choirboy had a cold.
De sa pauvre voix lass'
Jeanette spoke in a tired, defeated voice.
Au tonsuré
Jeanette spoke to the priest.
Désemparé
Georges is saying that the priest was confused and helpless in this situation.
Elle a dit "Merde", hélas
Jeanette said 'shit' in response to Tonton Nestor's inappropriate touch.
Quoiqu'elle usât
Georges is saying that although Jeanette could hit back at Tonton Nestor, it was not the right thing to do.
Qu'elle abusât
Georges is using sarcasm to suggest that Tonton Nestor would have probably enjoyed being hit back.
Du droit d'être fessue
Georges is referring to the old custom where a woman could slap a man if he was being inappropriate, but Georges doesn't think it's appropriate in this case.
En la pinçant
Georges is again describing Tonton Nestor's behavior.
Mauvais plaisant
Georges is calling Tonton Nestor a 'bad jokester.'
Vous nous avez déçus
Georges is expressing disappointment in Tonton Nestor.
Aussi, ma foi
Georges is saying that as a result of this, things will be different in the future.
La prochain' fois
Georges is talking about the next time Jeanette will get married.
Qu'on mariera Jeannett'
Georges is indicating that Jeanette will get married again.
On s'pass'ra d'vous
Georges is telling Tonton Nestor that he won't be invited to the next wedding.
Tonton, je vous
Georges is addressing Tonton Nestor by name again.
Je vous le dit tout net
Georges is again being frank with Tonton Nestor.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Charles Brassens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind