This cycle was premiered in concert on 2 May 1926 at the Salle des agriculteurs, 8 rue d'Athènes [fr] in the 9th arrondissement of Paris,[2] by Pierre Bernac, as a 26-year-old baritone virtually unknown,[1] and Francis Poulenc, 27 years old, as the pianist.
It was the memory of this first collaboration that would bring together Poulenc and Bernac several years later for many international tours, from 1934 to 1959.
The titles of the eight pieces, of which the tempi alternate quick and slow movements, are as follow: Just out of the surrealist experience of Les Six, Poulenc dared to bring the bawdy songs into the concert halls.
On the other hand, in the Journal de mes mélodies, Poulenc explains about them: "I hold this collection dear where I tried to demonstrate that obscenity can accommodate music.
For example, in the "Chanson à boire" (a different setting and a different text to Chanson à boire, 1922), the words celebrate "the kings of Egypt and Syria" because they "wanted their body to be embalmed, to last longer, dead", and conclude, Buvons donc selon notre envie !