Gare au yorkshire !
Après avoir réussi, pour me préserver de l'apoplexie qui me guette plus souvent que de raison, à m'empêcher de hurler par clavier interposé sur l'ineptie absolue du statut constitutionnel du Duc de Cornouailles qui a fait les titres du Guardian récemment (Ça y est, je sens mon pouls qui s'accélère. 1-2-3, je respire, tout va bien, je vais bien), je me trouve une fois de plus réconciliée avec ce pays, par le biais, paradoxalement, de Brassens et de la traduction.
En remontant d'une pause clope hier, je suis tombée sur MLAM se bidonnant devant une vidéo de l'interprétation par Jake Thackray de son adaptation en anglais de la chanson Le gorille. La voici, avec les r roulés qui sentent bon le nord — l'homme est du Yorkshire :
Pour ceux que l'accent désarçonne, voici la transcription des paroles* :
Brother Gorilla (George Brassens ) Translated by Jake Thackray from the French Through the bars of a large enclosure The village ladies intently stare Where a gorilla with massive composure Was impassively combing his hair They were shamelessly interested Eyeing devoutly a certain spot By me mother's special request I'll refrain from telling you what Bother Gorilla Now the door to 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 that difficult age) Brother Gorilla 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 didn't budge A little old lady, all shrunken And a Petty Sessions Judge Brother Gorilla Now 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 It would be curious and uncanny 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 And go for Grandma every time. Brother Gorilla 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 paleolithic leer He gave the old lady the miss And grabbing the judge by the ear Gave him an introductory kiss Brother Gorilla 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
Je ne pensais pas qu'il soit possible de se rêver dans un sleeping du Paris Lyon Méditerranée en route vers la plage de Sète à l'écoute d'un texte anglais chanté avec l'accent de Leeds. Et l'homme n'est même pas traducteur de son métier ! Respect.
* Les paroles françaises originales de Brassens sont là.