Les Philistins - A son you dreamt of as a lawyer turns out a hairy poet

I find this a very charming little song which Brassens wrote from the poem of Jean Richepin. It also has a touch of poignancy. I enjoy the immaculate style with which the very attractive French singer, Sandrine Devienne performs it and I have made hers the first video on this post
Brassens has songs of two of the poems of the 19th century writer and poet, Richepin (1849-1926); the other is “Les oiseaux de passage”, which I have not yet translated.

This is a portrait of Jean Richepin and when I draw attention to his long bushy hair, his beard and his moustache, I am not being gratuitously personal.

What a come-down it would be if your child grew up to be a person who looked like this!  At least that is what the "philistines" think.

Brassens' recording of this song :

Les Philistins(1)

Philistins, épiciers, Tandis que vous caressiez, Vos femmes, En songeant, aux petits Que vos grossiers appétits Engendrent, Vous pensiez: "Ils seront, Menton rasé, ventre rond Notaires." Mais pour bien vous punir, Un jour vous voyez venir Sur terre Des enfants non voulus Qui deviennent chevelus Poètes. Vous pensiez: "Ils seront, Menton rasé, ventre rond Notaires." Mais pour bien vous punir, Un jour vous voyez venir Sur terre Des enfants non voulus Qui deviennent chevelus Poètes. Jean Richepin 1957 - Je me suis fait tout petit

Philistines, grocerymen All the while you were caressing Your wives Dreaming of  little ones That your lecherous appetites Engender, You used to think: "They will be Clean shaven, round of belly Lawyers." But to soundly punish you  One fine day you see arrive On earth Children not as wished for Who turn out to be long-haired Poets. You used to think: "They will be Clean shaven, round of belly Lawyers But to soundly punish you One fine day you see arrive On earth Children not as wished for Who turn out to be long-haired Poets.

 TRANSLATION NOTE

(1) Definitions of the word "philistine" from an English and from a French dictionary:

Philistine - often the word is not written with a capital “P”

a :  a person who is guided by materialism and is usually disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

b :  a person who is not informed in a certain area of knowledge.

 Philistin

a :  Personne qui a peu de goût pour les arts et la littérature. - b :  Personne qui par extension est ignorant et fat (In English-smug) .

I like Sandrine Devienne's recording of this song

Philistins Sandrine Devienne by viala12

It appears that Sandrine Devienne has recorded an album of the songs of Brassens where his lyrics are taken from other French poets:

Please click here to return to the full alphabetical list of my Georges Brassens selection