Buddies first of all
(Les copains d'abord)
Our boat was not a royal barge
For Cleopatra or King George,
It must be said in each port-of-call
In each port-of-call:
Our raft sailed gently in the breeze
Round the big duck-pond, past the trees,
A ship named "buddies first of all,"
"Buddies first of all."
Its motto: "Wave-tossed but unsunk"
Was true, and not a load of bunk,
Whatever evil tongues let fall
Evil tongues let fall.
Among the captain and the crew
There were no bad guys, just friends who
Agreed that shipmates must be called
"Buddies first of all."
We were not kids with silver spoons
Not heavenly twins who want the moon
Just normal children having a ball
Children having a ball.
We were not friends in poetry-books,
Sometimes we slung a few right-hooks;
None of our punches hurt at all
"Buddies first of all."
We were no angels, just kids who
Had never read our Bible through
But got the message one and all
Message one and all.
John, Peter, Paul and company
We only knew one litany:
It was our creed, our hymn, our call
"Buddies first of all."
If one friend hit a stormy patch
The good companions took the watch
And steered a course to make land fall
Course to make landfall.
If any one was in distress,
Or if he sent an S.O.S.
No-one ignored the signal call
Buddies First of all.
When some of us were meeting up
We never stood each other up.
If one was overboard when called,
He had died - that's all.
And in the sea of Tinie that flows
We never let the waters close
Upon his memory - most of all
He is missed by all.
Although I've salled in lots of boats
There's only one that stayed afloat
And held its course amid the squalls
Course amid the squalls.
It salled so gently in the breeze
Round the big duck-pond, past the trees,
A ship named "Buddies First of all",
"Buddies First of all".
Georges Brassens "Les copains d'abord".
Adapt. Graeme Allwright.
Traduction: Andrew Kelly
