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Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers

In Mudcat MIDIs:
Kyrie de Moines (Rugby version) (From a French Rugby Song Website)
Kyrie des Moines (The Monks' Lament)


Joe Offer 23 Jan 03 - 05:53 AM
Nigel Parsons 23 Jan 03 - 07:38 AM
sharyn 24 Jan 03 - 02:05 AM
Joe Offer 24 Jan 03 - 03:08 AM
Barbara 24 Jan 03 - 09:50 AM
Joe Offer 15 Feb 03 - 12:14 PM
Joe Offer 15 Feb 03 - 01:24 PM
Jim Dixon 02 Mar 03 - 03:58 PM
GUEST,Q 02 Mar 03 - 04:39 PM
GUEST,Q 02 Mar 03 - 05:09 PM
GUEST,Q 03 Mar 03 - 02:50 PM
GUEST,Q 03 Mar 03 - 02:53 PM
MMario 03 Mar 03 - 03:24 PM
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Subject: ADD: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 05:53 AM

At Camp Harmony, a lovely woman named Julie Bidou told me she found this song in a book of Canadian folk songs. I wondered if anybody can give better lyrics, and maybe background information and a tune.
-Joe Offer-

KYRIE ELEISON

KYRIE, KYRIE
Up in the abbot's chambers,
They are eating fresh roasted chicken today
But we others, poor little brothers, novices and others
We only get stale stew each day
ELEISON

KYRIE, KYRIE
Up in the abbot's chambers,
They are smoking the finest tobacco today
But we others, poor little brothers, novices and others
We only get stuff that tastes like hay
ELEISON

KYRIE, KYRIE
Up in the abbot's chambers,
They are drinking the best champagne they say
But we others, poor little brothers, novices and others
We only get stuff they throw away
ELEISON

KYRIE, KYRIE
Up in the abbot's chambers,
They are sleeping on soft feather beds they say
But we others, poor little brothers, novices and others
We sleep on planks for our sins to pay
ELEISON


"Kyrie Eleison" is Greek for "Lord Have Mercy," recited at the beginning of liturgy for Catholics and some others.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:38 AM

And of course it is always a stumbling block when a Roman Catholic says they have just taken part in a 'Latin Mass'.
"What, all in Latin?" I ask
"Yes"
"Didn't you sing/say the Kyries?"

My pedantry is not always appreciated.

Nigel


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: sharyn
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 02:05 AM

Hi Joe,

I've heard Julie sing this many times -- what you've got doesn't quite fit her tune. It should go

Kyrie-e, Kyrie-e,
Up in the abbott's chambers today
They are drinking, they are drinking
Finest French champagne they say
But we others, poor little brothers, novices and others,
We only get what they throw away:
E-e-e-e-e, e-e-e-e-leison

I know the tune, too. PM me with a phone number and I'll be glad to sing it to your answering machine or voicemail (but do it quickly or it will have to wait -- I'm going out of town Sunday for a week and won't have access to a phone or email.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 03:08 AM

Oh, well. I tried to write the lyrics on the back of an ATM receipt while Julie sang to me in the chow line, but the paper was too small. Julie promised to send me a copy of the songbook page, so I should be all set. Thanks for the offer, Sharyn. I'm still wondering if anybody knows background information.
-Joe-


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: Barbara
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 09:50 AM

Joe, that's one of a number of songs Julie does out of that same songbook, and the only other thing I know about it is that Lani questions the songbook's provenance.
In any case all the songs are delightful. She sings another about a chase where the pursuer and pursued keep changing shape, and I think that one about "My little husbandee (He was no bigger than a pea" also comes from the same source.
I, too, could write out the tune for you, if you want.
Blessings,
Barbara


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Subject: ADD: Kyrie des Moines (Rugby)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 12:14 PM

Aha! Julie sent me a copy of the song yesterday. She didn't give me the name of the book, but it's in the unmistakeable Oak Publications songbook format. I think she said it was a book of songs from Canada.
The song is called "Kyrie des Moines" I did this Google search (click) for "Kyrie des Moines," and came up with some very interesting results, including a song from francerugby.fr. I don't know much French, but I know for sure the rugby version isn't the one Julie sang to me. Here's the Rugby version. anybody want to give us a translation?
-Joe Offer-

KYRIE DES MOINES (Rugby version)

Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y boit, on n'y boit
Que des vins bien cachetés
Mais nous autres,
Pauvres apôtres,
Pauvres moines, tripaillons de moines,
Sacré nom de Dieu de religieux,
Nous ne buvons que des vins frelatés
E-e-e-e-e-e-lison.
Kyrie, Christe Dominum nostrum,
Kyrie Elison

Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y mange, on n'y mange,
Que des plats bien préparés
Mais nous autres
Pauvres apôtres... (Comme le premier couplet)
Nous ne mangeons que des mets avariés...

Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On se couche, one se couche
Sur des matelats bien douillets
Mais nous autres
Pauvres apôtres...
Nous nous couchons sur la paille de blé...

Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y baise, on n'y baise
Que des femmes de qualité
Mais nous autres
Pauvres apôtres...
Nous ne baisons que des cons vérolés...

Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'encule, on n'encule
Que des petits bien balancés
Mais nous autres
Pauvres apôtres...
Nous ne pouvons que nous entreculer...


Click to play


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Subject: ADD: Kyrie Des Moines (The Monks' Lament)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 01:24 PM

Here's the text Julie sent me.

Notes: This rather touching complaint of 'little monks' and novices, is a fine party song, and a favorite of college students and others in the Montreal area of Quebec, as well as elsewhere, It has other verses; the first three given here I learned from the well known Montreal folk singer, Hélène Baillargeon, while the fourth verse is my own (author unknown)

Click to play



KYRIE DES MOINES
The Monks' Lament


1. Kyrie, Kyrie dans les chambres de nos abbés,
On n'y mange on n'y mange
que du poulet bien faisandé
Mais nous autres, pauvres apôtres!
Moinilons et moines,
Nous ne mangeons que d'la fricassée......Eleison!

2. Kyrie, Kyrie dans les chambres de nos abbés,
On n'y boit, on n'y boit
que du bon yin champagnisé;
Mais nous autres, pauvres apôtres!
Moinilons et moines,
Nous ne buvons que du frelatté!......Eleison!

3. Kyrie, Kyrie dans les chambres de nos abbés,
On n'y fume, on n'y fume
que du tabac bien parfumé;
Mais nous autres, pauvres apôtres!
Moinilons et moines,
Nous n'fumons que du tabac haché!...... Eleison!

4. Kyrie, Kyrie dans les chambres de nos abbés,
On n'y couche, on n'y couche
que clans des beaux lits bien drapés;
Mais nous autres, pauvres apôtres!
Moinilons et moines,
Nous n'couchons que sur le dur plancher!...... Eleison!

1. Kyrie, Kyrie, up in the Abbot's chambers gay,
They are eating they are eating
well-roasted chicken, so they say!
But we others, poor little brothers!
Novices and others,
We only get stale stew each day!.....Eleison!

2. Kyrie, Kyrie, up in the Abbots' chambers gay,
They are drinking, they are drinking
only the best champagne, they say!
But we others, poor little brothers!
Novices and others,
We only drink what they throw away!.....Eleison!

3. Kyrie, Kyrie, up in the Abbots' chambers gay,
They are smoking, they are smoking
perfumed tobaccos, so they say!
But we others, poor little brothers!
Novices and others,
We only smoke junk that tastes like hay!......Eleison!

4. Kyrie, Kyrie, up in the Abbots' chambers gay,
They are sleeping, they are sleeping
in lovely feather beds, they say!
But we others, poor little brothers!
Novices and others,
We sleep on planks for our sins to pay!.....Eleison!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Mar 03 - 03:58 PM

Joe: I think the English translation in the previous post may be singable, but it misses some of the humor in the original. Let me explain...

In French, it takes two words to make a negative. One part, "ne" goes before the verb and the other part goes after.

Il mange = he eats; he is eating
Il ne mange pas = he eats not; he doesn't eat; or he isn't eating

However, there are other kinds of negatives:

Il ne mange rien = he eats nothing
Il ne mange jamais = he never eats
Il ne mange que (du pain, par example) = he eats only (bread, for example)

So when you hear "ne", you know a negative is coming up, but you don't know what kind of negative until you hear what comes after the verb. This song artificially prolongs the suspense by repeating the first part of the sentence, up to the verb, and then finishes the sentence in a different way than you might expect, rather like this:

"In our abbots' chambers,
No one eats, no one eats
Anything but the best chicken..."

As for your rugby version, it gets raunchy, especially in the last verse, and even uses words that I don't know and that Babelfish won't translate. Maybe it's just as well...


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 02 Mar 03 - 04:39 PM

Another bawdy version of "Kyrie des Moines" along with a few other bawdy French Student songs can be found here" Le Paillardier


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 02 Mar 03 - 05:09 PM

51 student songs here, including Tower of London, Caroline the Whore, La Biere, Kyrie (all French, unfortunately). Song List here: Le Chant


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 02:50 PM

The song was mentioned in the novel, "Mon Frère Yves," by Pierre Loti, writer and naval officer, published in 1883.

The "rugby" version, posted by Joe Offer, is close to the Traditional version, but the verses are out of order. See Chorale de l'ULB- Chansons religieuses: Kyrie traditional
A strong midi is provided (click on Harmonisation).

Another version, by the singer Aristide Bruant, is at the same website. Click on "Voir aussi.....Bruant" above the song.

Here is the traditional version in proper order:

LYR. ADD: KYRIE DES MOINES

1. Kyrie, Kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y boit, on n'y bois
Que des vins bien cachet&$233;s;

Cho.:
Mais nous autres, Pauvres apôtres,
l'auvres moines, tripaillons de moines,
Sacré nom de dieu de religieux!
Nous ne buvons que des vins frelatés
É-é-é-é-é-é-eleison.
Kyrie, Christum dominum nostrum
Kyrie eleison.

2. Kyrie, kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y mange, on n'y mange
Que des plats bien pr&$233;par&$233;s; ;....
Nous ne mangeons que des mets avariés...

3. Kyrie, kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On se couche, on se couche
Sur des matelas bien douillets; ;...
Nous nous couchons sur la paille de blé ...

4. Kyrie, kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'y baise, on n'y baise
Que des femmes de qualité ;...
Nous ne baisons que des cons v&$233;rolés ...

5. Kyrie, kyrie,
Dans la chambre de nos abbés,
On n'encule, on n'encule
Que des petits bien balancés ;...
Nous ne pouvons que nous entreculer....

A Breton song originally, brought to Québec.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 02:53 PM

Sorry for the dollar signs- should all be acute é


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kyrie - Up in the Abbot's Chambers
From: MMario
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 03:24 PM

I see the midis have been posted. Huzzah!


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