Travel Theme: Benches, Part Deux
I had forgotten about this funny, quirky, adorable song when I wrote my previous "bench" blog, but my boyfriend kindly reminded me of its existence. Originally written by French singer-songwriter/poet Georges Brassens, Les Amoreux des Bancs Publics is all about couples making out on park benches. If this doesn't belong in Ailsa's bench-themed blog, I don't quite know what does.Below are the original and a translated version, and below those are the lyrics. Enjoy![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic_wbt63LD8]
LES AMOUREUX DES BANCS PUBLICS
Words and Music : Georges Brassens
Les gens qui voient de travers
Pensent que les bancs verts
Qu'on voit sur les trottoirs
Sont faits pour les impotents ou les ventripotents
Mais c'est une absurdite
Car, a la verite
Ils sont la, c'est notoire
Pour accueillir quelques temps les amours debutants
CHORUSLes amoureux qui s'becotent sur les bancs publics
Bancs publics, bancs publics
En s'foutant pas mal des r'gards obliques
des passants honetes
Les amoureux qui s'becotent sur les bancs publics
Bancs publics, bancs publics
En s'disant des *je t'aime* pathetiques
Ont des p'tites gueules bien sympathiques
Ils se tiennent par la main
Parlent du lendemain
Du papier bleu d'azur
Que revetiront les murs de leur chambre a coucher
Ils se voient deja douc'ment
Elle cousant, lui fumant
Dans un bien-etre sur
Et choisissent les prenoms de leur premier bebe...
CHORUS
Quand la sainte famille Machin
Croise sur son chemin
Deux de ces malappris
Elle leur decroche hardiment des propos venimeux
N'empeche que toute la famille
Le pere, la mere, la fille, le fils, le saint-esprit
Voudrait bien de temps en temps
Pouvoir s'conduire comme eux.
CHORUS
Quand les mois auront passe
Quand seront apaises
Leur beaux reves flambants
Quand leur ciel se couvrira de gros nuages lourds
Ils s'apercevront emus,
Qu'c'est au hasard des rues
Sur un d'ces fameux bancs
Qu'ils ont vecu le meilleur morceau de leur amour
CHORUS (x2)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k0GdBK75bU]
THE PUBLIC BENCHES
by Georges Bressens, translated and performed by Pierre de Gaillande
People who see upside-down
Think the benches around
The sidewalks and the streets
Are made only for the impotent or the obese
But it’s an absurdity
For in reality
These venerable seats
Are there to accommodate young lovers when they meet
Chorus:
Young lovers kissing on park benches publicly,
Publicly, publicly
Not giving the slightest damn for the
Honest people’s stares
Young lovers kissing on park benches publicly,
Publicly, publicly
Saying “I love you” pathetically
Look pretty nice if you ask me
As they sit there holding hands
They speak of future plans
Of sky blue wallpaper
That will dress the pretty walls of their nuptial bedside
They see what tomorrow knows
He’s smoking while she sews
Their happiness assured
While deliberating the name of their first-born child
Chorus
When the noble what’s-their-names
Happen to contemplate
Two of these so-and-so’s
They never hesitate to toss out some venomous names
Though the entire family clan
The mom, the girl, the dad
The son, the Holy Ghost
Wouldn’t mind once in a while behaving just the same
Chorus
When the heady months have ceased
When they will have appeased
All of their burning dreams
When their sky grows heavy with the darkening clouds above
They will sadly come to see
That it was on these streets
Upon these famous seats
That they lived the greatest moments of their budding love
Chorus