Le bistro- unflattering description of a favourite meeting place

We know the name and location of the bistro that Brassens describes in this song.  It is called "Aux Sportifs Réunis" and it is situated opposite the "parc Georges Brassens" (Paris 15e)  Below is a photo:

It was owned by  Yanek (Jean) Walczak. He was originally a miner and took up boxing in his youth.  During the Occupation, he won the title of amateur light-weight champion.  He became a professional boxer in 1947 and the peak of his achievement was winning was winning the welter-weight championship of France. He fought the best in the world. In 1948, he fought his friend the legendary Marcel  Cerdan for the French Middle weight title but was knocked out.  He had fights in the U.S. and fought the greatest boxer in the world, Sugar Ray Robinson three times in 1950-1951.

After Robinson knocked him out in June 1951 Walczak retired from the ring and opened his restaurant in Paris. It was a place where he could meet up with his friends locally. The bistrot was frequented by famous personalities, including Edith Piaf and Georges Brassens, who lived close by in this unfashionable quarter.  His son tells us that his father was a well-liked host, who always enjoyed a good laugh.

It is said that Brassens was no longer welcome at "Aux Sportifs Réunis" after publishing "Le bistrot" in 1960, but that is perhaps only the natural conclusion that anyone would make after hearing the song.  This may not be true, however, and evidence will be provided later in this post.

Le Bistrot Dans un coin pourri Du pauvre Paris,(1) Sur une place, L'est un vieux bistrot Tenu par un gros Dégueulasse. Si t'as le bec fin, S'il te faut du vin D’ première classe, Va boire à Passy, Le nectar d'ici Te dépasse. Mais si t'as l'gosier Qu'une armure d'acier Matelasse, Goûte à ce velours, Ce petit bleu(2), lourd De menaces. Tu trouveras là, La fine fleur de la Populace, Tous les marmiteux(3), Les calamiteux (4) De la place, Qui viennent en rang, Comme des harengs, Voir en face La belle du bistrot, La femme à ce gros Dégueulasse. Que je boive à fond L'eau de toutes les fon- -taines Wallace, Si dès aujourd'hui Tu n'es pas séduit Par la grâce De cette jolie fée (5) Qui, d'un bouge, a fait Un palace, Avec ses appas, Du haut jusqu'en bas, Bien en place. Ces trésors exquis, Qui les embrasse, qui Les enlace ? Vraiment, c'en est trop ! Tout ça pour ce gros Dégueulasse ! C'est injuste et fou, Mais que voulez-vous Qu'on y fasse ? L'amour se fait vieux, Il a plus les yeux Bien en face. Si tu fais ta cour, Tâche que les discours Ne l'agacent. Sois poli, mon gars, Pas de geste ou ga- -re à la casse. Car sa main qui claqu’e, Punit d'un flic-flac Les audaces. Certes, il n'est pas né Qui mettra le nez Dans sa tasse. Pas né, le chanceux Qui dégèl'ra ce Bloc de glace, Qui fera dans l'dos Les cornes à ce gros Dégueulasse. Dans un coin pourri Du pauvre Paris, Sur une place, Une espèce de fée, D'un vieux bouge, a fait Un palace. Album;- "Le Mécréant" 1960

In a run-down spot Of the poor Paree On a square Stands an old bistro That’s run by a man Fat and  gross If your palates’s fine If you must have wine Very top class Go t’drink in Passy The nectar served here’s Beyond you. But if you’ve a gullet That’s armoured with Steel plating Taste this little blue Velvety, heavy With menace You’ll find them here The elite of the Populace All the bedraggled Calamitous folk from Round about Who come in shoals As of herrings To see up close The pub’s fair lady The wife of this man Fat and gross. May I drink dry all Of the Paris Wallace fountains If from this day on You are not seduced By the grace Of this fair siren Who from a slum made A palace With her female charms From top to bottom, Nicely arranged These matchless treasures Who kisses them, who Fondles them? In truth it’s too bad. All that for this man Fat and gross It’s unjust and mad But what do you expect To be done? Cupid’s getting old His eyes can’t see straight Any more If fancying her Try talk that doesn’t Annoy her Be polite my lad No grope or beware The rough stuff For her stinging slap Two way, punishes Cheeky men. F'r sure, man is not born Who will put his nose In her cup. Not born’s the chancer Who will unfreeze this Block of ice Who will place horns on The back of this man Fat and gross. In a run-down spot Of the poor Paree On a square A kind of siren Made, from an old slum,  A palace

TRANSLATION NOTES

1)   Although in English, we pronounce Paris with the final "s" sounded, we also talk of "Gay Paree". I wondered if using it here helped the emphasis on a different face of Paris than we usually see.

2) Ce petit bleu - In familiar speech, this describes a poor quality wine

(3) marmiteux - My French dictionary tells me that this adjective means: looking old - in a bad state

(4)  calamiteux- My French dictionary tells me that this adjective means: catastrophic, calamitous, unfortunate, disastrous.

(5) fée - As well as fairy, this can mean; enchantress, siren, magician.

DID THIS SONG LEAD TO A QUARREL BETWEEN JEAN WALCZAC AND BRASSENS?

A later photograph shows Brassens and Walczac sitting happily together at the restaurant of Pierre Vedel. Walczack is sitting to the right of  Brassens.  In spite of the latter's insults, it might seem that the former boxer's face is quite presentable and he is not too overweight.  Probably the song would have been acceptable in their group as it was recognised as massive exaggeration intended to provoke but not too seriously- which Brassens often enjoyed doing.

Walczack's son now runs the business, whose restaurant he now calls "Chez Walczac".  However he has ensured that "Aux Sportifs Réunis"  lives on, to sustain nostalgic memories of the Brassens era.  All this is advertised on the Internet at:

http://www.resto-de-paris.com/chez-walczak-sportifs-reunis/restaurant/paris 

Pleaseclick here to return to the alphabetical list of my Brassens selection