The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168350   Message #4071415
Posted By: Monique
10-Sep-20 - 04:22 AM
Thread Name: Songs by Georges Brassens
Subject: RE: Songs by Georges Brassens
Note: 1st verse "except of course flutes". In French, "être du bois dont on fait les flûtes" (lit. to be made of the wood flutes are made of) means to be extremely accommodating or even to comply with requirements for fear of contradiction. It seems to have originated with hurdy-girdies not flutes to refer to a very flexible wood hence the very flexible nature of a person.