Fernande Brassens Lyrics Translation

Click here for the full index of Brassens songs

Carla Bruni chooses to sing a Brassens song and the song that she chooses is banned on French radio. She is not only beautiful; she has a sense of humour. I like the naughty twinkle in her eye when she tells us that she has been advised against singing this song but that she is going to sing it all the same.

This is Georges Brassens performing his song.  This is a song in which the audience often likes to participate:

This song deals with the inconsistent sexual consolations available to men when they are in situations deprived of women. That Brassens includes himself in this company links with the sexual frustration of his mature years (after years of plenty) described in “Auprès de mon arbre”. He was then in his final, longlasting but (he often complains) sexless, relationship with Joha Heiman, his “Pupchen” - see also Brassens' “Je me suis fait tout petit”.

The song is the kind of rugby, barrack room song, which Englishmen and some not very lady-like Englishwomen like to sing with gusto on appropriate occasion.

Fernande Une manie de vieux garçon, Moi, j'ai pris l'habitude D'agrémenter ma solitude Aux accents de cette chanson : Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi, Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas. C'est cette mâle ritournelle, (2) Cette antienne virile, Qui retentit dans la guérite De la vaillante sentinelle : Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi, Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas Afin de tromper son cafard, De voir la vie moins terne, Tout en veillant sur sa lanterne, Chante ainsi le gardien de phare : Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi, Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas Après la prière du soir, Comme il est un peu triste, Chante ainsi le séminariste À genoux sur son reposoir : Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi,  Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas. À l'Étoile où j'étais venu Pour ranimer la flamme, J'entendis ému jusqu'aux larmes La voix du Soldat Inconnu : Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi, Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas. Et je vais mettre un point final  À ce chant salutaire, En suggérant aux solitaires D'en faire un hymne national. Quand je pense à Fernande Je bande, je bande,(1) Quand j' pense à Félicie Je bande aussi, Quand j' pense à Léonore, Mon Dieu, je bande encore Mais quand j' pense à Lulu, Là, je ne bande plus. La bandaison, papa, Ça n' se commande pas

Strange habit of an old bachelor I have got into the way Of spicing up my loneliness With the accents of this song    When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well, When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled.  It is this popular male refrain This ancient chant for men Which rings out from the sentry box Of the valiant duty guard When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well, When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled To get over his homesickness To see life 'bit less bleak Even while tending to his lamp The lighthouse keeper sings out thus. When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well, When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled After evening prayers As he is a little sad The priest in training sings like this  As he's kneeling at his altar  When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well,  When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled On the Place de l’Étoile where I'd come For revival of the flame I heard, reduced to tears, The voice of the unknown soldier When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well, When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled. And I am going to finish This salutary song By suggesting for lonely people To make it a national anthem.  When I think of Fernande It's so hard, It's so hard, When I think of Félicie It's hard as well, When I think of Léonora Good Lord, it's hard once more But when I think of Lulu There, it is hard no more Getting erect papa, That just can't be controlled

(Georges Brassens 1972)

TRANSLATION NOTES

1)Collins Robert advise that the word “bander” is an indecent word that you are advised not to use if you are not a native French speaker. It means "to have or to get an erection". Until now- the 31st of Match 2010 - I have translated the line more delicately, saying "I get turned on". However, I have come in for a lot of criticism from bloggers who say that if Brassens in his characteristically blunt fashion says: “I have an erection ..... , an honest translator must say the same.

At the start, I had put the direct translation of "Je bande" right at the bottom of this page, so as not to offend. There I explained:" Je bande means "I get an erection"Anonymous reproached me ...

"There is something I don't understand", he wrote. "This is a very delicate and formal translation. Can anybody be offended by that ??? (19 September 2008 06:37

After a couple of weeks, my weblog told me that a number of readers agreed with him and I decided to give the direct translation.  However “I get an erection” is an awkward phrase of seven syllables that does not fit well into the line and so I chose: “it is hard”. (See my final footnote)

2) C'est toujours la même ritournelle means « It’s always the same old tune» -Collins Robert.

 FINAL FOOTNOTE: "It is hard when I think of you....."

 These words bring to mind a close friend, now advancing in years, who was a soldier in the Second World War and spent years as a P.O.W.  He told me that the standard first line of a soldier's letter home was: “It is hard when I think of you my darling"- Thus combining the emotional and the physical.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO INDEX WITH FULL LIST OF SONGS

Les amoureux des bancs publics - Public passion needs to be encouraged as its lifespan is brief

Brassens is made very angry when he sees an intensely religious family abuse a couple for their public display of passion. To Brassens, moments of happiness are very precious as they fade so quickly.

Les gens qui voient de travers Pensent que les bancs verts Qu'on voit sur les trottoirs Sont faits pour les impotents ou les ventripotents Mais c'est une absurdité Car à la vérité Ils sont là c'est notoir'(2) Pour accueillir quelque temps les amours débutants(3) Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique Des passants honnêtes Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's(5) Ont des p'tit's gueul'(6) bien sympatiqu's. Ils se tiennent par la main Parlent du lendemain Du papier bleu d'azur Que revêtiront les murs de leur chambre à coucher. Ils se voient déjà doucement Ell' cousant, lui fumant, Dans un bien-être sur Et choisissant les prénoms de leur premier bébé Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique Des passants honnêtes Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's. Quand la saint' famill' Machin(7) Croise sur son chemin Deux de ces malappris Ell' leur décoche hardiment en passant des propos venimeux N'empêche' que tout' la famille Le pér' la mér' la fille Le fils le saint esprit(8) Voudrait bien de temps en temps pouvoir s' conduir' comme eux Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique Des passants honnêtes Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's. Quand les mois auront passé Quand seront apaisés Leurs beaux rêves flambants Quand leur ciel se couvrira de gros nuages lourds Ils s'apercevront émus Qu' c'est au hasard des rues Sur un d' ces fameux bancs Qu'ils ont vécu le meilleur morceau de leur amour. Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique Des passants honnêtes Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics, Bancs publics, bancs publics, En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's. Georges Brassens 1954

People who give dirty looks Think that the green benches You see on the sidewalks Are made for people with bad legs or with pot-bellies But that’s an absurdity For if the truth be known They’re there, as is well-known To host, for a while, couples whose love has just begun. The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public(4) Caring not much about critical looks from Decent passers-by The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public While saying « I love you’s », deeply felt Have very nice, appealing little faces. They hold each other by the hand They speak of the morrow Of the sky blue wallpaper With which the walls of their bedroom will be decorated Sweetly, they already see each other She sewing, he smoking Comfortable and secure And selecting the Christian names of their first baby The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public(4) Caring not much about critical looks from Decent passers-by The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public While saying « I love you’s », deeply felt Have very nice, appealing little faces. When the holy family what’s-their-names Walk by on their way Two of these improper guys They hurl at them, full blast, vicious remarks as they pass Even though all of them Father, mother, daughter Son, Holy Spirit Would very much like to act the same from time to time. The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public(4) Caring not much about critical looks from Decent passers-by The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public While saying « I love you’s », deeply felt Have very nice, appealing little faces. When the months have flown by When there will have cooled down Their fine dreams, once aflame When their sky will become covered with great heavy clouds They will perceive fondly It was by off chance of streets On one such ill-famed bench That they lived through the best little piece of their love. The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public(4) Caring not much about critical looks from Decent passers-by The lovers who smooch on benches in public In public, In public While saying « I love you’s », deeply felt Have very nice, appealing little faces.

TRANSLATION NOTES

1)     les bancs publics – I considered translating this with “park benches” as this is how  we readily refer to this style of seating even when not placed in a park.   In 2009 there was French film directed by Bruno Podalydès, whose title in France was “Bancs Publics.”  I note that its title in the English speaking world is “Park Benches”.  In this poem, however, the word “public “ is essential to the message and has to be retained.

2)     c'est notoir' – The adjective notoire means notorious but the phrase “Il est notoire que” means : it is public/common knowledge that- it’s an acknowledged fact that. (Robert).

3)     les amours débutants –Strictly speaking Brassens is making a grammatical mistake here as the rule is that “amour” in the singular is masculine, but “amours” in the plural is feminine.  Brassens is a purist however and deliberately makes this change.

4)     In public -  In public -  The French says of course “Public Benches”  but I think that I need to have a similar three syllable chorus with a similar rhythm and have taken the liberty to make this change.

5)     pathétiqu's – the most common usage of « pathetic » in English is as an insult.  “You are pathetic!” means “You are pitiably inadequate”.  However in both languages, it also means arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness and this is the meaning here.

6)     Ont des p'tit's gueul' – La gueule an impolite word has two main meanings: firstly “Mouth” and so “Ta gueule!” Means “Shut up”.  Secondly “Face” and so “Il a fait une sale gueule quand il a appris la nouvelle » means « He pulled a face when he heard the news ».  The slang word for “face” in English is “mug” e.g.  “I never want to see your ugly mug again!”  When Brassens is in danger of being sentimental, he uses a disrespectful word.

7)     famill' Machin – *If you can’t think of a man’s name you say: le père Machin = Mr. What’s-his-name. 
Similarly “Mrs what’s her name” = la mère Machin.

8)     Le pér' …. Le fils le saint esprit to describe this family, Brassens ironically uses expressions from Christian liturgy.  He would blame the spirit of the Christian Church for making the natural reproductive processes shameful.

Please click here toreturn to the alphabetical list of my Brassens selection