The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #159349   Message #3775365
Posted By: Snuffy
27-Feb-16 - 02:13 PM
Thread Name: Which BBC Schools Broadcast around 1966
Subject: RE: Which BBC Schools Broadcast around 1966
The "French Traditional Tune" of song #3 is "Aupres de ma Blonde". The English lyrics posted by Jim Dixon in this thread is a pretty close translation of the first four verses of the French song. The actual French words translate as:

In my father's garden the lilacs are in bloom.
In my father's garden the lilacs are in bloom.
All the birds of the world come there to build their nests
Chorus Beside my blonde, it is fine, is fine, is fine
Beside my blonde, it is fine to sleep (lie)


All the birds of the world come there to build their nests
All the birds of the world come there to build their nests
The quail, the turtle-dove, and the pretty partridge etc.

And my little dove who sings night and day

He sings for all the girls have no husband.

He doesn't sing for me for I have a fine one

Tell us, lass, where is your husband?

He's in Holland: the Dutch have captured him.

Tell us, lass, what would you give to get him back?

The tower of Notre Dame and the belfry of our church

And my little dove who sings night and day