Le Pont des Arts à Paris
Le vent
The wind
Georges Brassens (1953)
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NOTES
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Le blog de M. David Yendley
(dbarf.blogspot.com/2014/09/le-vent-lively-song-that-celebrates-le.html)
assortit ce texte de 16 notes destinées aux lecteurs anglophones qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de traduire. Par contre il me semble judicieux d'apporter les petites rectifications et informations complémentaires qui suivent: [4] Jean-foutre: Alors que le Larousse de poche 2018 donne pour ce mot la signification: “homme incapable”, le Larousse en 2 volumes (1922) indique: “individu coupable de lâcheté morale, d'indélicatesse, d'ingratitude”. Comme Brassens oppose ce terme à “gens probes” (pour rimer avec “robes” et se permettre un jeu de mots sur l'homonymie “Jean-gens”), c'est cette signification morale qu'il retient. Il n'apparaît pas qu'il veuille distinguer entre des styles d'habillement opposés comme l'indique M. David Yendley. Il est exact que l'idée générale est que le vent s'en prend à toutes les catégories d'individus, sans distinction, sur une palette définie par ses valeurs extrèmes. Mais celles-ci sont morales, non vestimentaires. [13] Colin-tampon était le titre d'une batterie de tambours des Suisses au service de la France. [16] Fâcheux: a toujours le sens que lui donnait Molière, “importun”, mais appliqué à des personnes, comme ici, il a une connotation littéraire. En revanche, ce mot ne signifie jamais “qui se fâche facilement” ou “qui est fâché”. On ne peut pas exclure que Brassens ait voulu faire une plaisanterie dans ce sens, comme le suppose M. Yendley, mais c'est peu probable. David Yendley's blog (dbarf.blogspot.com/2014/09/le-vent-lively-song-that-celebrates-le.html) appends to this text 16 notes intended for the English-speaking readers which it is not necessary to translate. Nevertheless, it seems relevant to insert small corrections and additional information as follows: [4] [5] Jean-foutre: While the "Larousse de poche 2018" gives for this word the meaning: “incapable man”, the "Larousse in 2 volumes, 1922" indicated: “individual guilty of moral cowardice, indelicacy, or ingratitude”. As Brassens opposes this term to “right-minded people” (“probes”, a word apt to rhyme with “robes” while allowing a pun on the homonyms “Jean” and “gens”), it is this moral meaning that he retains. It does not appear that he wants to distinguish between opposite styles of clothing, as assumed by David Yendley. It is true that the general idea is that the wind attacks all categories of individuals, without distinction, on a panel the width of which is defined by its extreme values. But these are moral, not sartorial. [13] Colin-tampon was the title of a drum battery peculiar to the Swiss enlisted in the service of France. [16] Fâcheux: still has the meaning given to it by Molière, “inopportune”, but when applied to people, as here, it has a literary connotation. On the other hand, this word never means “who gets angry easily” or “who is angry”. We cannot exclude that Brassens did think of such a joke, as Mr. Yendley supposes, but it is unlikely. |
1) crois's le vent ,= (Croiser quelque chose) to chance to run into/ to bump into something - to pass someone or something coming in the opposite direction. 2) le vent fripon - the mischievous/ cheeky wind 3) le vent maraud – the rascally wind 4) Jean-foutre – My Petit Larousse tells me that "Je m'en foutisme" = insouciance. that means not giving a care about anything (but see the opposite remark!) 5) des gens probes , upstanding upright right-minded. (There is a contrast here that can make you think that Brassens is, typically, making a reference to social disparity. In this context, I think though, that he is merely saying here that the two extremes of contrasting dress styles reveal the complete range of people picked on by the mischievous wind.) (but see the opposite remark!) 6) Médis'nt du vent (Médire de) –slander –speak ill of 7) vent furibond – furious – livid – angry wind. 8) rebrousse les bois – brush up (e.g. hair) in the wrong direction. 9) Détrouss' les toits – Strip the roofs -Détrousser means to rob violently (eg in a hold up)- to fleece you of your possessions. 10) Retrouss' les robes – hitch up/ hike up dresses – roll up (sleeves). 11) répondre de qch – to vouch for something. 12) Il ne soucie pas de- he does not care about - he has no regard to. 13) colin-tampon a nothing – a trifle – a thing of no importance – 14) cela saute aux yeux – it sticks out a mile – it’s quite obvious – you can’t miss it. 15) raffolant de – raffoler de means – to be mad about – to be crazy about- to be wild about. 16) fâcheux – upsetting – annoying ie something that is a nuisance or a pain – disagreeable/ unpleasant – unfortunate/ untoward. I use "bad tempered." It is self-evident that those who, because their clothing has been violently blown about, become very annoyed or angry, will, at that moment at least, be the most bad tempered. This is Brassens' little joke (but see the opposite remark!) |
Georges Brassens chante "Le Vent".
Le Groupe Malo interprète "Le Vent" à la mode tzigane (ou klezmer)
Index 