Les Amoureux des Bancs Publics by George Brassens

Interesting and entertaining song. It appeared in one of my French lessons this week. The professor didn't mention it in class or reference it ever, but it was in the online part of the lesson. I find it highly amusing. The French are awesome.

I've put the English translation underneath [thanks to brassenswithenglish.]

Enjoy!


GEORGES BRASSENS - Les amoureux des bancs publics



Lyrics with translation:

Les gens qui voient de travers
People who give funny looks
Pensent que les bancs verts
Think that the green benches
Qu'on voit sur les trottoirs
That you see on the pavements
Sont faits pour les impotents ou les ventripotents
Are made for people with bad legs or pot-bellies
Mais c'est une absurdité
But that’s an absurdity
Car à la vérité
For in truth
Ils sont là c'est notoir'
They are there , it’s common knowledge
Pour accueillir quelque temps les amours debutants
To welcome for a little while couples whose love is new

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing

Ils se tiennent par la main
They hold each other by the hand
Parlent du lendemain
Speak of the morrow
Du papier bleu d'azur
Of the sky blue paper
Que revetiront les murs de leur chambre à coucher.
Which the walls of their bedroom will assume
Ils se voient déjà doucement
Sweetly, they see each other already
Ell' cousant, lui fumant,
She sewing, he smoking his pipe
Dans un bien-etre sur
Comfortably secure
Et choisissant les prénoms de leur premier bébé
And choosing the names of their first baby

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing

Quand la saint' famill' Machin*
When the holy family what’s-their-names
Croise sur son chemin
Pass on their way
Deux de ces malappris
Two of these badly brought up people
Ell' leur décoche hardiment en passant des propos venimeux
They let fly at them, full force, with hurtful remarks as they walk by
N'empech' que tout' la famille
No matter that all the family
Le pér' la mér' la fille
Father, mother, daughter
Le fils le saint esprit
Son, Holy Spirit
Voudrait bien de temps en temps pouvoir s' conduir' comme eux
Would very much like to be able to behave like them from time to time


Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing


Quand les mois auront passé
When the months have gone by
Quand seront apaisés
When they have cooled down
Leurs beaux reves flambants
The fires of their beautiful dreams
Quand leur ciel se couvrira de gros nuages lourds
When their sky is covered with big heavy clouds
Ils s'apercevront emus
Deeply moved, they will become aware
Qu' c'est au hasard des rues
That it was through a random choice of streets
Sur un d' ces fameux bancs
On one of those notorious benches
Qu'ils ont vécu le meilleur morceau de leur amour.
That they lived out the best piece of their love.

Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' fouttant pas mal du regard oblique
Not caring one bit about the sidelong glances
Des passants honnetes
Of the proper folk who pass by
Les amoureux qui s' bécott'nt sur les bancs publics,
Lovers who smooch on public benches
Bancs publics, bancs publics,
Public benches, public benches
En s' disant des " Je t'aim' " pathétiqu's
Saying to each other « I love you », so emotional
Ont des p'tit's gueul' bien sympatiqu's.
Have little faces that are very appealing


*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.

Georges Brassens 1954