Le gorille
Georges BrassensLa versione inglese di Jake Thackray | |
OCJO AL GORILA | BROTHER GORILLA |
‘Ta placuta di una vila Ducj a cjalavin incocalits Un quadrumano gorila Puartât aventi da cui-sa ce sit Las comâris dal Borc di Là A smicjavin un pont precis Quâl, po-gjau, induvinàilu Che dal sigûr achi jò no lu dis Ocjo al Gorila! | This week in La Sante Prison in Paris, two fellers got their 'eads chopped off. This was official, and it was meant as a punishment. Here is a translation of a famous French song about capital pun. It was written some twenty years ago by Georges Brassens - the best, the very best of all poet-singers. It is called The Gorilla, and it is offensive. |
Poben, di colp, il gabiot Dulà ch’al era l'anemal Al si spalanca, no sai parcé Forsit la cluca a scierava mal La besteata a scjampa fûr Cun chest pensir precis tal cjâf: "Vué i ml deliberi dal polzetagjo Ch'al è di massa ch’a mi ten sciâf” Ocjo al Gorila! | Through the bars of a large enclosure The village ladies intently stared, Where a gorilla with massive composure Was impassively combing his hair. They were shamelessly interested, Eyeing devoutly a certain spot, But my mother's especially requested I refrain from telling you what. Brother Gorilla! |
Il padron al sbegherava: "Il gno gorila, sacramentât, No l'à jodût mai polzeta Forsit mi resta confusionât” Las comâris apena savût Ch’al era vergjn il besteòn A la tovin di tromba, cença Aprofitâ da situazion Ocjo al Gorila! | The door of the circus lock-up, Where the noble brute had been put, By an administrational cock-up Was unwisely left unshut "I'm going to lose it at last," he cried, Swinging lissomely out of his cage, Referring, of course, to his chastity: He was just at the difficult age Brother Gorilla! |
Encje chês che cun plui tir A contemplavin il goloseç Quant ch’a si cjatin tal intif A refudin il bon rapeç E sì che il gorila al è domiesti E plui che un uman al à braura A inventâ i giûcs da l’amôr E mena-ju a furnidura Ocjo al Gorila! | Those self-same ladies who previously Had been licking their lips from afar Did a bunk, which shows how devious And whimsical women are. In the path of the lovesick monkey There were two who wouldn't budge: A little old lady, all shrunken, And a petty sessions judge. Brother Gorilla! |
Ducj a fuin di cà e di là Cença respir, cença padìn Si fermin nomo gnagna cruspa E un giudiç suturno cu l'ermelin Stant che ducj a la vevin tovada Il quadrumano al cor a varcs Al da un’ultima acelerada E al plomba sui doi restants Ocjo al Gorila! | The old girl said "It would be surprising And unlikely in the extreme If anyone found me appetising, And beyond my wildest dreams!" The judge intoned with tranquillity: "To take me for a female ape Would be the height of improbability". Even judges make mistakes. Brother Gorilla! |
“Ch’a mi podino volé - A suspirava la centenaria - a è una rôba da no crodi e come dî straordenaria” "Sumo sù, cuntun scimiot - Il magjstrat al cjalava di stuart - Nol è posibbil...” Ce ch’al ven dopo Al prova che il giudiç al veva tuart Ocjo al Gorila! | It would be curious and uncanny, Say, if the choice were up to you To ravish a judge or a granny And you didn't know which to do. If I were in such a position And the choice had got to be mine, I'd beg the old lady's permission But go for grandma every time. Brother Gorilla! |
Difati, lui, scartada la viêla Al ti plomba sul magjstrât A lu gafa par una vorêla A lu strissina tal mieç di un prât Ce ch’al sucêt ta l'ortigûl Jò no lu conti d’insomp a pit Che di contâ las purcitarias Vava jér l'ati a me lu a improibit Ocjo al Gorila! | Though the gorilla is very proficient In the role of a paramour His mental equipment's deficient And his eyesight's awfully poor. With a Palaeolithic leer He gave the old lady the miss And, grabbing the judge by the ear, Gave him an introductory kiss. Brother Gorilla! |
Su conti nomo che sul plui biel E a ogni a-fondo salacor Al vaiva il giudiç como un vidiel E al belava “Mari-mê-di-côr” Al belava: “Mama!”, como chel biât Che la buinora tanche un poleç Cuntuna sentenza no pa la quâl Al veva picjât al malcjaveç Ocjo al Gorila! | In time the gorilla's desires Were more or less gratified. The judge, being rather biased, Couldn't see the funny side. He was kicking and screaming and wailing When his moment of truth had come, Like those wretches he orders daily To be taken away and hung. Brother Gorilla! |