Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version

Subject: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: GUEST,Tracey
Date: 17 May 00 - 07:49 AM

Hi! Does anyone out there know the actual words to this trench song?

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click for related thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 May 00 - 07:53 AM

This was in a discussion quite some time ago here. But I'll bet there are even more verses out there!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 May 00 - 08:19 AM

Well, sorry, I posted the wrong link - sorta. This one is the one with the verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: GUEST,Tracey
Date: 17 May 00 - 09:01 AM

Thanks - I wonder if anyone knows any English versions, as the one I remember bits of doesn't seem to be any of these!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 17 May 00 - 09:21 AM

I remember a schoolfriend of mine had a 78 of one of the dance bands of the time (?Harry Roy) with the clean versions of this and other songs popular with the WW2 forces (Bless' em all etc). Needless to say we spotty 'erberts didn't bother to learn the clean versions and this grizzled old head hasn't retained the dirty version!
RtS

Subject: Add: Mademoiselle (UK Kids version)
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 May 00 - 09:58 AM

A version I remember from my distant chilhood:

There was an old woman of 92
Parlez-vous
There was an old woman of 92
Parlez-vous
There was an old woman of 92
Did a fart and away it flew
Inky pinky parlez-vous

The fart went rolling down the street
Knocked a copper off his feet

The copper got out his rusty pistol
Blew the fart right on to Bristol

The people of Bristol were having a dance
The fart went rolling on to France

The people of France were not at home
The fart went rolling on to Rome

Then it ended with a spoken bit about what the fart did (to the Pope??), but I can't remember it properly

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: kendall
Date: 17 May 00 - 11:00 AM

All I remember was a verse that went..

The first Marine went over the top parlez vous,
the first Marine went over the top, parlez vous,
the first Marine went over the top
and picked up the pennies the Canadians dropped...etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: GUEST,Tracey
Date: 17 May 00 - 01:08 PM

I remembered a bit that Grandad used to sing :

"There were Burmese, Singalese,
the Army and the Infantry,
Mademoiselle from Armentiers
and the Lancashire Fusiliers"

And I think it might have been the same song as the one with "Rc, C of E" in it, that I posted separately, (sorry) but I just can't remember it...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 May 00 - 04:58 PM

To add futher info regarding other verses and origins of the song, as well as that given on the other linked thread, you can also click here

I'd post them but I do not have the guts.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentieres
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 17 May 00 - 08:43 PM

Tracey:
Here goes. These lyrics are from The Encyclopedia of Folk music Volume two.

Two German officers crossed the Rhine, Parlais Vous.
Two German officers crossed the Rhine, Parlais Vous.
Two German officers crossed the Rhine
to kiss the women and drink the wine,
Hinkey donkey parlais Vous.

"Oh farmer have you a daughter fair? Parlais Vous?"
Oh Farmer have you a daughter fair Parlais Vous?
Oh Farmer have you a daughter fair
to wash a soldier's under wear?
Hinkey dinkey parlais Vous.

Mademoiselle from Armentiers, Parlais Vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentiers Parlais vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentiers,
She ain't even heard of underwear,
Hinkey dinkey parlais vous.

This goes on for several verses but they may well be in the digitrad or on some other threads. good luck. I personally prefer there's a long trail winding but I'm a sentimental old fool. Reguards and I hope you join our merry little band, Neil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: GUEST,Tracey
Date: 18 May 00 - 03:00 AM

Hmmm... I think the one I know must be a variant of some sort, as it hasn't exactly the same tune, either. Thge old memory banks finally relented, and gave me this in the middle of the night -

There were RC's, C of E's
The medics and the Infantry
The Sargeant, the Brigadier
And Mademoiselle from Armentiers
Inky, pinky, parlez-vous

There were Burmese, Singhalese
Chinese and Japanese,
Norfolk's and the Grenadiers
And the Lancashire Fusiliers
Inky, pinky, parlez-vous

And I'm sure now that this is the one from tyhe other thread about RC & C of E, but I don't know how to link them up...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 18 May 00 - 07:36 PM

Tracey: I believe that there are probably several variants and some may actually be post world war one era. I don't know which is the "correct" version. Maybe all of them but song parody's and additional verse is a musical tradition as old as folk music (and all other types of music as well.) I believe the verse you mention may very well be post WWI as the Japanese, while involved in theat war actually confined themselves to the western Pacific ocean. I assume it is one of the British versions of the song given the mention of the regiments. Have a great evening and good luck in your search. Reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers - UK Version
From:
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 01:54 PM

My father spent 4 years during WW2 on a merchant marine ship, so you might understand his version of the song. I can't recall all of it, but roughly, it went, "The first Marine found the bean, parlez vous, the second Marine cooked the bean, parlez vous, the third marine ate the bean and blew apart the submarine, inky dinky parlez vous." Don't ask me why a marine would be aboard a sub!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers - UK Version
From:
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 09:01 PM

AS taught by the late Gough Winn Tompson Bolton, 110th F.A., Maryland National Guard:

The little marine went over the top, parlez vous.
The little marine went over the top, parlez vous.
The little marine went over the top,
And grabbed the Kaiser by the cock.
Inky, dinky, parlez vous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentiers - UK Version
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 11:16 PM

The first marine went over the wall, parlez-vous.
The second marine went over the wall, parlez-vous.
The third marine went over the wall,
Got hit in the ass with a cannonball,
Inky-dinky parlez-vous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,sugar plum
Date: 18 Dec 05 - 11:52 AM

Since I could remember, my grandfather would sing this "song." I finally decided to find the lyrics. I came across this forum and saw that there are many different versions. Here is the one I have been brought up with:

The first marine went over the top, parlez vous
The second marine went over the top, parlez vous
The third marine went over the top
Hit the guy with the lollipop
Inky dinky, parlez vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,Paul Cole
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 05:33 PM

My grandfather,Sgt. H.P. Goolsby commanded a tank destroyer in Italy.the version he allways sang was "The first Marine found the bean, parlez vous, the second Marine cooked the bean, parlez vous, the third marine ate the bean and blew a hole in the submarine, inky dinky parlez vous."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 07:03 AM

Three German officers crossed the Rhine parlez vous
Three German officers crossed the Rhine parlez vous
Three german officers crossed the Rhine
Fucked the women and drunk the wine
Inky pinky parlez vous

They came upon a wayside inn parlez vous
They came upon a wayside inn parlez vous
They came upon a wayside inn
Kicked the door and walked right in
Inky pinky parlez vous

Oh landlord have you daughters fair parlez vous
Oh landlord have you daughters fair parlez vous
Oh landlord have you daughters fair
Lily white tits and curly hair
Inky punky parlez vous

So up the winding stairs they went parlez vous
So up the winding stairs they went parlez vous
So up the winding stairs they went
And when they came down their legs were bent
Inky pinky parlez vous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: Helen Jocys
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:19 PM

My father who fought in the 1918 war quoted -
Mlle from Arementiers
Picanini for souvenir etc. Can't remember the rest......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 01:56 AM

My grandfather, Arnold Campanile, would sing this sometimes.
Just for fun... and to remember...

The first marine went over the top, parlez vous
The second marine went over the top, parlez vous
The third marine went over the top
And shit all over the submarine
Hinky dinky, parlez vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: Lighter
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 12:08 PM

Guest, it doesn't rhyme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,LaneB
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 09:04 PM

The Submarine phrase I know is;

The First Marine Found the Bean, parlez vous
The Second Marine Cooked the Bean, parlez vous
The Third Marine Ate the Bean,
And crapped all over the submarine,
Hinky Dinky, parlez vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,John C
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 02:41 PM

My Grandfather would sometimes break into song while driving the family to our vacation home in Ontario. As I remember the verse, it was a bit of a shot at the tightwad Scots:

Scotch Marines went over the top,
Parlez-vous
Scotch Marines went over the top,
Parlez vous
Scotch Marines went over the top,
they thought they heard a penny drop!
Inky Dinky Parlez Vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armenti�res -UK Version
From: GUEST,Todd Junker
Date: 11 Jan 12 - 09:35 AM

My father sang this song to me as a child. I have no idea if it is the original version.

"The first Marine bought the beans, parlez-vous,
the second Manine cooked the beans, parlez-vous,
the third Marine ate the beans, blew a hole in the submarine.
Inky-dinky parlez-vous."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 13 - 02:07 AM

I heard it was "the third marine ate the bean and blew a hole in the submarine"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,Biker
Date: 29 Sep 13 - 04:54 AM

Mademoiselle from Armentieres,
Parlez-vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentieres,
Parlez-vous,
Mademoiselle from Armentieres,
Claimed she was a virgin 'til we got there,
Hinky-dinky parlez-vous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,ivik
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 08:19 PM

The first marine fell in the well, parlez vous                                          The second marine fell in the well. parlez vous                        
The third marine fell in the well,                                        Forgot to stop and went to hell                                           Hinky-dinky parlez-vous

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: Thompson
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 02:23 AM

Thread in the Great War Forum about the statue of the actual 'Mademoiselle from Armentieres' from the Great War Forum.
The song is mocking, but the original is a heroine: young widow Marie Lecocq worked as a waitress in a local café, and brought messages to the British front lines when no soldier was able to do so. She is remembered with reverence in France, where the devastation the Great War brought to the people of the countryside was not a passing thing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: Lighter
Date: 25 Jun 14 - 01:09 PM

I'd be interested to see any actual historical evidence that Marie Lecocq was either "the original Mademoiselle from Armentieres" or that she heroically assisted the British Army in carrying messages to the front or in any military capacity whatever.

Since Marie Lecocq appears to have been 25 and twice married by 1915, she was no longer a "mademoiselle," and it seems unlikely that she hadn't been kissed in "forty years."

And if not, what makes her "the original"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 15 - 11:11 AM

I remember hearing my grandmother singing it this way:

The second division went over the hill, parles vous
The second division went over the hill, parles vous.
........
........
Hinky dinky parles vous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: Lighter
Date: 28 May 15 - 01:54 PM

Usually it' s "went over the top."

To do very bad things to the Kaiser.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mademoiselle from Armentières -UK Version
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 24 Mar 17 - 09:42 PM

When I was a student at the US Army Sergeant's Major Academy, I was one of a fortunate group who were required to take a course on US military history taught by an older gentleman who had been in the National Guard in the 1930s. The disclosed that many of his fellow unit members were veterans of World War One, and evidently sang cadence calls from the "great war", among them were verses from "Mademoiselle from Armentieres" such as "The little Marine went over the top, parlez wous, the little marine went over the top, parlez vous, the little marine went over the top, to circumcise the kaiser's cock. Another verse spoke of "mademoiselle from gay paree, she had the clap and she gave it to me...." Knowing Soldiers, I am certain that dozens of such ribald lyrics were dreamed by 11 November 1918 by our guys where were "over there". Damn, how do you not love Soldiers? Colonel Akers, I salute you, wherever you are.