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Oncle Archibald [English translation]
Oncle Archibald [English translation]
turnover time:2024-12-03 15:43:25
Oncle Archibald [English translation]

Oh you, you blatant liars1,

all you sneaks, you charlatans,

you prophets,

don't count on Uncle Archibald any more

to give you money to waste irresponsibly

at your parties2... (twice)

When running after a thief

who had just stolen the time

from his watch

Uncle Archibald - what misfortune !

had, with her Majesty Death

a meeting ... (twice)

Like a woman with loose morals

she was pacing up and down the pavement of the

cemetary,

enticing men by fixing

a little higher than is decent

her shroud. (twice)

Uncle Archibald, deriseively,

told her "go away and hang your skeleton

up elsewhere ...

I scorn fleshless females !

Long live beauties a bit

well rounded". (twice)

Then, mounting her big horses

Death brandished the long

agricultural scythe

which she was holding tightly in her shroud

and with just one stroke alone she cut down

the good fellow. (twice)

As he didn't look too happy

she said to him "I've loved you now

for a very long time ...

and our marriage for both us

was predicted since the day of

your baptism..." (twice)

"If you lie yourself down in my arms,

then life will seem to you

more easy ...

There you will be out of reach

of dogs, of wolves, of men and of

imbeciles... " (twice)

"None will contest your rights,

you can cry out long live the king!

without concealing it ...

If you want to change you mind,

you can cry out, without any danger

Long live the league!"3 (twice)

"Your time as a dupe is completely over,

No-one will pay themselves any more

from your account4 ...

Will you permit me, Master? will no longer be used,

never again will you have to bend

your head" (twice)

And my uncle followed the steps

of the beauty, who didn't seem to be

so ferocious...

And there they are, arm in arm,

there they are having set out for I don't know where

to have their wedding... (twice)

Oh you, you blatant liars],

all you sneaks, you charlatans,

you prophets,

don't count on Uncle Archibald any more

to give you money to waste irresponsibly

at your parties ...(twice)

1. lit: you tearers out of teeth - see http://www.expressio.fr/expressions/mentir-comme-un-arracheur-de-dents.php2 for an explanation of how it came to mean rotten blatant liars2. lit: "to pay for the dance bands at your parties", but it actually means to pay and receive nothing - no goods, no services, no thanks - for paying3. This stanza is a reference to the French religious civil wars in the 2nd half of the16th century; towards the end of this 36 year conflict the league of extremist catholics were wanting the replace the non-extremist King by the Cardinal de Bourbon while the King's supprters were wanting to kill the leaders of the league (including the Cardinal). The war killed more people that any of Europe's religious wars except the 30 years war; and this war was 20% longer than the 30 years war (if the 30 in the name is accurate). At any time during the last period of the saying either of the slogans quoted in this stanza was asking to be killed if someone on the other side overheard you (or found out that you'd said it).4. :literally: on your horse

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Georges Brassens
  • country:France
  • Languages:French
  • Genre:Singer-songwriter
  • Official site:http://www.georges-brassens.com/
  • Wiki:https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Brassens
Georges Brassens
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