La chanson du jour - French songs 101

Georges Brassens: Pensées des morts (Lamartine - 1826) (1969)

I love this song with the words from a poem by Alphonse de Lamartine. From the album Mysoginie (1969).

On YouTube. As usual I am stunned by all that is available on YouTube (and this time I was spared the offensive advertising). I love the melody and the poem is great too.

Text below. Brassens did not use the whole poem, he cut out some parts.

Georges Brassens: Gastibelza, l'homme à la carabine (1956)

Brassens adds music to this poem of Victor Hugo. An excellent "mise en musique" that made famous this poem.

On YouTube. 

Lyrics (see below)

If you wonder why I suddenly select several songs by Brassens instead of the usual mix of various periods and artists it is because I have decided to change my approach: for the next weeks I am going to follow my bliss and right now it is looking for songs whose lyrics are pre-existing poems.

Georges Brassens: Le petit cheval blanc (1952)

Brassens sings this poem by Paul Fort. It is on his first record.

YouTube

Lyrics

Jean Ferrat: Que serais-je sans toi (1964)

Jean Ferrat sings this text by Aragon. The whole album devoted to poems by Aragon is excellent.

Lyrics

Georges Moustaki: Le métèque (1968)

This classic song by George Moustaki.

Lyrics

Amazon MP3