Georges BRASSENS - Manuscript - "Elegy for a cellar rat".

Georges BRASSENS (1921.1981)

Autograph manuscript – Elegy for a cellar rat.

Two folio pages on squared paper front.

On the back, letterhead printed “Georges Brassens 42 rue Santos-Dumont”

[Paris. 1978]

Rare manuscript of this song written in memory of the wife of his jazz musician friend, Mustache. Composed of 48 verses, the manuscript presents some variations with the words finally recorded.

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Elegy for a Cellar Rat

No one would have believed this cellar

Prophesying by misfortune

My poor little cellar rat

You would disembark before time

You weren't the type to turn

On board and everyone knew it at the slightest bad wind

The kind to jump ship

And you're the first one who did it

 

Now my friend we are sequestering you

Within the heavens

That I disguise myself as an orchestra singer

For your beautiful eyes

As I leave, my friend, I assure you

You left the dark inside of us

Whatever we didn't put crepe on

Our fucking binious

No one has ever seen me, you have to note it

It's a first

Make a beef with croque notes

It's in your honor

Also know that by listening to Bechet(te)

Foll' gamberge we see after dark

Your ghost who jumps in secret

Rue du Vieux Colombier

 

Without any “goodbye my brothers”

But we don't blame you for that,

Casually, you don't want to do anything

Your hole under the snow of yesteryear.

From now on, it's not salads,

Among Flora, Jeanne, Thaïs,

I include your name in the ballad

Beautiful ladies of yesteryear.

Now my friend your place is made

Among the good guys,

What did you find for the eternal celebration,

Papa Zutty,

Warm up the place for all the old schoolboys,

Thing Thing, and Luter and Longnon,

And this fat from Mustache's belly,

Faithful companions.

If he is brave, why should God the father

Up there would do

Some difference between Saint-Pierre

And Saint-Germain-des-Prés?

Deep in our hearts we wish that in this

Merciful paradise,

there will be dancing tomorrows for you

Or there is no good God.

Shine bright for you tomorrows that dance

Or there is no good God.

 

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Mustache (1929-1987) was a French jazz actor and drummer. In 1978, he created the group “Les Petits français” which recorded, among other things, jazz covers of songs by Georges Brassens.

Elegy for a cellar rat is the first song from the album Georges Brassens plays with Mustache and the Petits Français recorded in 1978 and released in January 1979 (Philipps/Phonogram).