Translation of the song L'assassinat artist Georges Brassens
L'assassinat
The Murder
C'est pas seulement à Paris
It's not only in Paris
Que le crime fleurit
that crime flourishes
Nous, au village, aussi, l'on a
here in the country we too have
De beaux assassinats
some nice murders.
Nous, au village, aussi, l'on a
Here in the country we too have
De beaux assassinats
some nice murders.
Il avait la tête chenue
His hair had grown white with age
Et le cœur ingénu
and his heart was naive
Il eut un retour de printemps
He felt young again1
Pour une de vingt ans
for a twenty year old girl.
Il eut un retour de printemps
He felt young again
Pour une de vingt ans
for a twenty year old girl.
Mais la chair fraîche, la tendre chair
But fresh flesh, tender flesh.
Mon vieux, ça coûte cher
old boy, that costs a lot.
Au bout de cinq à six baisers
After five or six kisses
Son or fut épuisé
his money had run out.
Au bout de cinq à six baisers
After five or six kisses
Son or fut épuisé
his money had run out.
Quand sa menotte elle a tendue
When she held out her paw
Triste, il a répondu
saddened, he replied
Qu'il était pauvre comme Job
that he was as poor as Job.
Elle a remis sa robe
She put her dress back on.
Qu'il était pauvre comme Job
That he was as poor as Job.
Elle a remis sa robe
She put her dress back on.
Elle alla quérir son coquin
She went to find her rascal friend
Qu'avait l'appât du gain
who was greedy.
Sont revenus chez le grigou
They came back to the miser's2 place
Faire un bien mauvais coup
to do something very bad.
Sont revenus chez le grigou
They came back to the miser's place
Faire un bien mauvais coup
to do something very bad.
Et pendant qu'il le lui tenait
And while he held him for her
Elle l'assassinait
she murdered him.
On dit que, quand il expira
They say that when he expired
La langue elle lui montra
she stuck her tongue out at him.
On dit que, quand il expira
They say that when he expired
La langue elle lui montra
she stuck her tongue out at him.
Mirent tout sens dessus dessous
They looked all over, ransacked the place,
Trouvèrent pas un sou
didn't find a penny,
Mais des lettres de créanciers
but some creditors letters
Mais des saisies d'huissiers
and some bailiffs' siezure notices.
Mais des lettres de créanciers
but some creditors letters
Mais des saisies d'huissiers
and some bailiffs' siezure notices.
Alors, prise d'un vrai remords
Then, struck by sincere remorse
Elle eut chagrin du mort
she was sorry about the dead man
Et, sur lui, tombant à genoux,
and falling to her knees beside him
Elle dit : « Pardonne-nous ! »
she said Forgive us!
Et, sur lui, tombant à genoux,
and falling to her knees beside him
Elle dit : « Pardonne-nous ! »
she said Forgive us!
Quand les gendarmes sont arrivés
When the police arived
En pleurs ils l'ont trouvée
they found her in tears.
C'est une larme au fond des yeux
It was a tear deep in her eyes
Qui lui valut les cieux
that was worth heaven for her.
C'est une larme au fond des yeux
It was a tear deep in her eyes
Qui lui valut les cieux
that was worth heaven for her.
Et le matin qu'on la pendit
And the morning they hung her
Elle fut en paradis
she was in paradise.
Certains dévots, depuis ce temps
Some devout people have been.
Sont assez mécontents
since then, rather unhappy.
Certains dévots, depuis ce temps
Some devout people have been.
Sont assez mécontents
since then, rather unhappy.
C'est pas seulement à Paris
It's not only in Paris
Que le crime fleurit
that crime flourishes
Nous, au village, aussi, l'on a
here in the country we too have
De beaux assassinats
some nice murders.
Nous, au village, aussi, l'on a
Here in the country we too have
De beaux assassinats
some nice murders.