L'ancêtre [English translation]

Our neighbour the very old man1 was a proud gentleman

who annoyed no-one with his white beard

and when word spread that his days were coming to an end

we went off to the hospice to cheer him up.

We had brought our guitars with us

because music brought him to his knees

except always military marches

which he found hilarious when he listend to them2. (bis)

imitators of Django3 and followers of Crolla4,

all the finest cord pluckers were there,

to offer the old man, as a sign of affection,

as a kind of viaticum, a last hearing of music. (bis)

Alas! The medical students wouldn't admit them,

the guitars stayed behind at the carriage gate,

and the last concert for the disappointed old man

was a medley of canticles, what a pity!

When we are very old people

over at the Hospice de Bicêtre5,

no organ music, oh no!,

no liturgical chants,

for the anyone who kicks the bucket6,

but guitars, for heaven's sake7! (bis)

We had brought some litre flasks too,

because the old man was extremely fond of wine8

and on party nights, according to the bartender,

he was the last to end up under the table. (bis)

Saumur, entre-deux-mers, beaujolais, marsla9,

all the finest products of the vine were there

to offer the old man, as a sign of affection,

as a kind of viaticum, one last libation. (bis)

Alas! The medical students wouldn't admit them,

the litre flasks stayed behind at the carriage gate,

and the stirrup cup for the disappointed old man

was a big glass of holy water, what a pity!

When we are very old people

over at the Hospice de Bicêtre,

don't make us drink, oh no!,

any of these mineral waters,

be they holy or lustral,

but some decent wine, for heaven's sake! (bis)

We had brought the beauties of the quarter,

because the old man happily went wenching.

With his wandering but nevertheless worthy hand

he would stroke dresses whatever the weather. (bis)

From Manon Lescaut to Delilah

all the best of the fair sex were there

to offer the old man, as a sign of affection,

as a kind of viaticum, one last erection. (bis)

Alas! The medical students wouldn't admit them,

the beauties stayed behind at the carriage gate,

and the last rustling noise for the disappointed old man

was that of a nun's robes, what a pity!

Alas! The medical students wouldn't admit them,

the litre flasks stayed behind at the carriage gate,

no children of Mary, oh no!,

for us replace the nuns

with some lovely good-lookers

who excite, for heavens sake! (bis)

1. ancêtre usually means "ancestor" but it can also mean "a person of great age"2. literally: "listened to while knocking his butt on the groung". That could mean something obscene but I think doesn't here3. Django Reinhardt, a famous guitarist4. Henri Crolla, another famous guitarist5. in the southern suberbs of Paris6. literally: swallows his chewing tonbacco7. literally: sacred name of a name8. literally: "had the fever of Bercy". Bercy is a quarter of Paris where a lot of wine dealing goes on, with large amounts of wine delivered there both by boat and by road from wine-growing districts9. three well-known French wine districts and one Italian one

• Artist:Georges Brassens
• Album:Misogynie à part