The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #130522   Message #3058107
Posted By: Monique
20-Dec-10 - 06:18 PM
Thread Name: The French 'Voice of the People' set
Subject: Lyr Add: JE ME SUIS ENGAGÉ POUR L'AMOUR D'UNE...
JE ME SUIS ENGAGÉ POUR L'AMOUR D'UNE FILLE
(French)

Je me suis engagé pour l'amour d'une fille (bis)
Les gens qui m'ont logé m'ont bien mal renseigné
Ils m'ont dit d' m'en aller sans avoir mon congé.

Dans mon chemin faisant rencontre mon capitaine.
Mon capitaine m'a dit : "Où vas-tu mon ami ?"
"Là-bas dans ces vallons rejoindre mon bataillon."

Là-bas dans ces vallons s'engage une bataille
J'ai mis mon sac à terre, j'ai pris mon sabre en main
Je me suis battu là comme un vaillant soldat.

Du premier coup tirant tua mon capitaine
Mon capitaine est mort mais moi je vis encore
Peut-être avant trois jours ce sera bien mon tour.

Celui qui me tuera sera mon camarade
Tu m'y banderas les yeux avec un mouchoir bleu
Tu m'y feras mourir sans m'y faire trop languir.

Soldats de mon pays ne dites pas à ma mère
Oh dites-lui j' me suis fiancé à la plus belle fille
Qu'il y a dans le quartier
Ah dites-lui plutôt que je me suis engagé
Sur un navire anglais
Qu'elle m'y verra jamais

Coirault : 6803 Le déserteur qui tue son capitaine.
Malrieu : 0723 An dezertour
RADdO : 00205.
I ENLISTED MYSELF FOR A GIRL'S LOVE


I enlisted myself for a girl's love (twice)
The people who accommodated me informed me very badly
They told me to go away without having a leave/furlough.

On my way, I came across my captain.
My captain told me "Where are you going, my friend?"
"There, in that vale, to joint my batallion"

There in these vales, a battle began,
I put my bag on the ground, I took my saber in my hand,
I fought there like a valient soldier.

On the first strike, I killed my captain,
My captain is dead but I still live.
Maybe before three days it'll be my turn.

The one who'll kill me will be my comrade.
You'll blindfold me with a blue handkerchief,
You'll make me die without taking too long.(1)

Soldiers of my land (2), don't tell my mother,
Oh tell her I got engaged to the most beautiful girl
In the neighborhood.
Ah, rather tell her than I enlisted myself
On an English ship,
That she'll never see me again.
(1) "sans me faire trop languir" means "without having me long for it"
(2) "pays" here doesn't mean "country" but land, area, neighborhood, homeplace.

This song can be found all over France though it's said to originate in Berry. Some versions have him asking for his heart to be wrapped in a white napkin and to be brought to his sweetheart and for his mother to be told he's in Bordeaux, made a captive by the English.

You can hear the recording here
You can hear slightly different versions here or there by Yves Montand among others.

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