Marinette Lyrics in English by Georges Brassens

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Marinette by Georges Brassens from French to English.

Quand j'ai couru chanter

When I ran to sing

Ma petite chanson pour Marinette

My little song for Marinette

La belle, la traîtresse était allée à l'opéra

The beautiful, the traitor had gone to the opera

Avec ma petite chanson

With my little song

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec ma petite chanson

With my little song

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

Quand j'ai couru porter

When I ran to carry

Mon pot de moutarde à Marinette

My jar of mustard for Marinette

La belle, la traîtresse avait déjà fini d'dîner

The beautiful, the traitor had already finished dinner

Avec mon petit pot

With my little pot

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec mon petit pot

With my little pot

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

Quand j'offris pour étrenne

When I offered as a New Year

Une bicyclette à Marinette

A bicycle for Marinette

La belle, la traîtresse avait acheté une auto

The beautiful, the traitor had bought a car

Avec mon petit vélo

With my little bike

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec mon petit vélo

With my little bike

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

Quand j'ai couru tout chose

When I ran everything

Au rendez-vous de Marinette

At Marinette’s meeting

La belle disait je t'adore

The beauty said I adore you

À un sale type qui l'embrassait

To a bad guy who kissed her

Avec mon bouquet d'fleurs

With my bouquet of flowers

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec mon bouquet d'fleurs

With my bouquet of flowers

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

Quand j'ai couru brûler

When I ran to burn

La petite cervelle à Marinette

Marinette's Little Brain

La belle était déjà morte d'un rhume mal placé

The beauty had already died of a misplaced cold

Avec mon revolver

With my revolver

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec mon revolver

With my revolver

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

Quand j'ai couru lugubre

When I ran mournful

À l'enterrement de Marinette

At Marinette's funeral

La belle, la traîtresse était déjà ressuscitée

The beautiful, the traitor was already resurrected

Avec ma petite couronne

With my little crown

J'avais l'air d'un con, ma mère

I looked like an idiot, my mother

Avec ma petite couronne

With my little crown

J'avais l'air d'un con

I looked like an idiot

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"Marinette" by Georges Brassens is a poignant and humorous reflection on unrequited love and the folly of devotion. The song narrates the experiences of a man who, despite his earnest attempts to win the affection of the beautiful but fickle Marinette, finds himself repeatedly outdone and humiliated. Each verse highlights his futile gestures—singing a song, bringing mustard, gifting a bicycle—only to discover that Marinette has moved on to other suitors or has little regard for his affections. The refrain, "J'avais l'air d'un con" (I looked like a fool), underscores his self-deprecating realization of the absurdity of his devotion, culminating in a darkly comedic twist as he attends her funeral, only to learn she has "resurrected." Through witty lyrics and a playful tone, Brassens captures the bittersweet nature of love, the pain of rejection, and the often ridiculous lengths to which one will go for affection.

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Georges Brassens Marinette Lyrics