In response to the recent lyric request for French folk songs, here is my transcription of Au Claire de la Lune, which extends the version already on DT, with more verses and a new translation as well. (This has been sitting on my hard drive since February 1997, this is a good motivator to post it!) I'm going to try this without double spacing the lines, if it doesn't come through clearly I will re-post double-spaced. AU CLAIRE DE LA LUNE
Very slightly modified (mainly spelling) from Rise Up Singing - page 83 G GD GD G / / Am - A D / 1st Or: easier to play and sing: D A DA D / / Em - E A / 1st French: Charles Fonteyn Manney & J.B.Lully "Au claire de la lune, mon ami Pierrot Prete-moi ta plume pour ecrire un mot Ma chandelle est morte, je n'ai plus de feu Ouvre-moi ta porte pour 1'amour de Dieu." Au claire de la lune Pierrot repondit "Je n'ai pas de plume, je suis dans mon lit Va chez la voisine, je crois qu'elle y est Car dans sa cuisine on bat le briquet." Au claire de la lune s'en fut Arlequin Frapper chez la brune, elle repond soudain "Qui frappe de la sorte?" Il dit a son tour "Ouvrez votre porte, pour le dieu d'amour!" Au claire de la lune on n'y voit qu'un peu On chercha la plume, on chercha du feu En cherchant d'la sorte je n'sais c'qu'on trouva Mais je sais qu'la porte sur eux se ferma! English translation #1: Anonymous "At thy door I'm knocking, by the pale moonlight Lend a pen, I pray thee, I've a word to write Guttered is my candle, my fire burns no more For the love of heaven, open up the door!" Pierrot cried in answer by the pale moonlight "In my bed I'm lying, late & chill at night Yonder at my neighbour's, someone is astir Fire is freshly kindled, get a light from her." To the neighbour's house then, by the pale moonlight Goes our gentle Lubin to beg a pen to write "Who knocks there so softly?" calls a voice above "Open wide your door now for the God of Love!" Seek they pen and candle by the pale moonlight They can see so little since dark is now the night What they find while seeking, that is not revealed All behind her door is carefully concealed! English Translation #2: Dorothy H. Patterson, @1988 "Underneath the moonlight, Pete my dearest friend Help me out this once, pal. Won't you lend your pen? My electric's out and so I have no light For the love of God, Pete, open up tonight!" Underneath the moonlight, Peter he replied, "I ain't got no pen, Harl, I'm in bed - Good night! Go bother my neighbour, I 'm sure that she's there Warming up her wood stove, by the kitchen stair." Underneath the moonlight, Harlequin stayed out Knocked at the brunette's house, then he heard her shout "Who is out there knocking?" "'Me," said Harlequin "For the God of love, dear, please let me come in." Underneath the moonlight, one can just discern Someone hunting pens, someone a light to burn Looking for these things, I don't know what they'll find But I know the door closed. And then? Never mind!!!
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