PECCADILLES IMPORTUNES (dedicated to Marguerite Long, dated October 26, 1913)
(from
Piano Music of Erik Satie Volume 3)
Etre jaloux de son camarade qui a une grosse tete: He who is jealous is not happy. I knew a little boy who
envied his parrot. He wanted to know his lessons as the parrot knew his.
Lui manger sa tartine: Get used to seeing bread and jam without feeling the need to steal it. It could make your head swell up to touch a friend’s bread and jam. I had a dog who, secretly, smoked all my cigars. He had a stomach disorder from them. It was a great sorrow for his father!
Profiter de ce qu’il a des cors aux pieds pour lui prendre son cerceau: This is not done. If the Good Lord sees this, he will be furious. It’s a thing that is never done, unless someone tells you so.
Satie, the velvet gentleman’s own strange stories on the music itself.