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Origins: Un Canadien Errant

08 Sep 07 - 03:50 PM (#2144118)
Subject: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: GUEST,JTT

Had to share:

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=ShXRGPBW6Eo

Made me chuckle, anyway.

08 Sep 07 - 04:18 PM (#2144127)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: CET

A weird performance, but I actually liked the singing. As somebody posted, it has conviction. I'd like to know where the accent comes from. Most of the words were pronounced quite well, but he doesn't seem to know that there's a difference between "un" and "une" and "fugitif" came out sounding like "foojeeteef". I wouldn't have expected this song to be very well known outside of Canada.

08 Sep 07 - 04:39 PM (#2144134)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: GUEST,JTT

I suspect that he listened to Leonard Cohen's version and copied the pronunciation from that. Nice voice, lovely backing - the whole thing's funny, too!

I've always loved the song; it has such a great misery-guts feel to it - "assis au bord d'un flot, d'un courant fugitif, il s'adressa ces mots...."

09 Sep 07 - 06:19 AM (#2144464)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: CET

I think the words are actually "au courant fugitif, il adressa ces mots". I've loved the song since I learned it in high school French class. I think you would be unlikely to heard a modern Quebec performer though.

09 Sep 07 - 07:43 AM (#2144511)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: GUEST,JTT

I'm sure you're right; he is more likely to be telling the courant fugitif to tell his friends that he souviens de than telling himself so.

Funny the things that are and aren't there on YouTube, Google Video, etc; inflamed by sudden secondhand Canadian nationalism I went looking for a video of Natalie Merchant singing Motherland, and it doesn't seem to be there at all.

09 Sep 07 - 11:23 AM (#2144617)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: bankley

Steve 'Cassonade' Faulkner started a re-write once called
'Un Canadien Incoherent'....

09 Sep 07 - 11:37 AM (#2144627)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: Mr Happy

Mmmmmmmmmm!

Liked his giant melodeon!!

09 Sep 07 - 01:03 PM (#2144685)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: John MacKenzie

I have this in a Canadian Folk Songs book by Edith Fowke from 1954, which a late lamented friend gave me some 25 years ago.
Giok

09 Sep 07 - 04:36 PM (#2144813)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: CET

"Un canadien incoherent"! That's too good to pass up. Did Cassonade ever finish it?

10 Sep 07 - 04:29 PM (#2145706)
Subject: RE: Review: Mad version of Canadien Errant
From: maeve

Giok- And I just got the Edith Fowke book having been spurred on by your post in this thread! I love the song and always want more verses.

maeve

30 May 17 - 01:57 AM (#3857789)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Joe Offer

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Un Canadien Errant

DESCRIPTION: Canadian French: A Canadien rebel has been forced from his home. Stopping by a stream, he bids it -- should it flow through his homeland -- to greet his friends. He promises not to forget his homeland
AUTHOR: M. A. Gerin-Lajoie
EARLIEST DATE: 1842
KEYWORDS: exile rebellion Canada foreignlanguage
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1837 - Revolt in Canada. The failure of the uprising forces many rebels into exile
FOUND IN: Canada(Que)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Fowke/Johnston-FolkSongsOfCanada, pp. 26-27, "Un Canadien Errant" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke/Mills/Blume-CanadasStoryInSong, pp. 82-84, "Un Canadien Errant" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fowke/MacMillan-PenguinBookOfCanadianFolkSongs 4, "Un Canadien Errant" (1 English and 1 French version, 1 tune)
Silber/Silber-FolksingersWordbook, p. 339, "Un Canadien Errant (An Exiled Canadien)" (1 text)
DT, CANADERR
ADDITIONAL: Edith Fowke and Richard Johnston, _Folk Songs of Quebec (Chansons de Quebec)_, Waterloo Music Company, 1957, pp. 16-17, "Un Canadien Errant (Once a Canadian Lad" (1 French text plus English translation, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Pete Seeger, "Un Canadien Errant" (on PeteSeeger29)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "An Anti-Rebel Song" (subject)
cf. "Farewell to Mackenzie" (subject)
cf. "Les Metamorphoses" (tune)
NOTES [25 words]: For further details about the Canadian revolt, caused by the oppression of an oligarchic government, see the songs mentioned in the cross-references. - RBW
Last updated in version 3.1
File: FJ026

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics. Any corrections?

UN CANADIEN ERRANT
(M.A. Gerin-Lajoie)

Un Canadien errant banis de ses foyers (2x)
Parcourait en pleurant des pays etrangers (2x)

Les jours di pleins d'acord vous etiez disparus (2x)
Et ma patrie helas je ne la verrai plus (2x)]

Un jour triste et pensif assis au bord des flots (2x)
Au courant fugitif il addresse ces mots. (2x)

Si tu vois mon pays mon pays malheureux (2x)
Va, dis a mes amis que je me souviens deux (2x)

O jours si pleins d'appas vous etes disparus (2x)
Et ma patrie, helas! Je ne verrai plus! (2x)

Non, mais en expirant, O mon cher Canada(2x)
Mon regard languissant vers toi se portera (2x)

Note: Written by a French Canada who took part in a rebellion
in Canada in the 1930's and was exiled from Canada.


Written by an exile in New York State from the rebellion in
Lower Canada, 1837. Verse 2 is later addition JB
Recorded by Ian and Sylvia
@French @Canada @home @outlaw
filename[ CANADERR
TUNE FILE: CANADERR
CLICK TO PLAY
RF



30 May 17 - 02:00 AM (#3857790)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Joe Offer

Smithsonian Folkways recording of Un Canadien errant performed by Alan Mills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRtKfclSLn0

Folkways notes: "Un Canadien errant" ("A Wandering Canadian") is a song written in 1842 by Antoine Gérin-Lajoie after the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837--38. Some of the rebels were condemned to death, others forced into exile to the United States and as far as Australia. Gérin-Lajoie wrote the song, about the pain of exile, while taking his classical exams at the Séminaire de Nicolet. The song has become a patriotic anthem for certain groups of Canadians who have at a point in their history experienced the pain of exile. In addition to those exiled following the Lower Canada Rebellion, it has come to hold particular importance for the rebels of the Upper Canada Rebellion, and for the Acadians, who suffered mass deportation from their homeland in the Great Upheaval between 1755 and 1763.

I learned the song from this recording by Ian & Sylvia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep4mmBIfvmU

30 May 17 - 03:16 AM (#3857797)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Jim Carroll

Hi Joe
This is the text from The Penguin Book of Folk songs, edited By Edith Fowke
It also appears in 'Canadian song and story, edited by Edith Fowke, Alan Mills, Helmut Bloom (pub W.J. Cage Toronto (no date)
I have included both sets of notes as there are differences.
Jim Carroll

UN CANADIEN ERRANT (from Fowke)



Un canadien errant
Banni de ses foyers,
Un canadien errant
Banni de ses foyers,
Parcourait en pleurant
Des pays étrangers,
Parcourait en pleurant
Des pays étrangers.

Un jour, triste et pensif,
Assis au bord des flots,
Au courant fugitif
Il adressa ces mots :

Si tu vois mon pays,
Mon pays malheureux,
Va, dis à mes amis
Que je me souviens d'eux.

Ô jours si pleins d'appas
Vous êtes disparus . . .
Et ma patrie, hélas
Je ne la verrai plus

Non, mais en expirant,
Ô mon cher Canada !
Mon regard languissant
Vers toi se portera.		 English words by Edith Fowke

Once a Canadian lad,
Exiled from hearth and home,
Wandered, alone and sad,
Through alien lands unknown.

Down by a rushing stream,
Thoughtful and sad one day,
He watched the water pass
And to it he did say:

If you should reach my land,
My most unhappy land,
Please speak to all my friends
So they will understand.
Tell them how much I wish
That I could be once more
In my beloved land
That I will see no more.

'My own beloved land
I'll not forget till death,
And I will speak of her
With my last dying breath.
My own beloved land
I'll not forget till death,
And I will speak of her
With my last dying breath.'

Notes from the Penguin Book of Canadian Songs (Ed Edith Fowke 1973)
Although the rebellion of 1837-8 was easily suppressed, the continuing border raids by American sympathizers angered the Tories and provoked harsh treatment of the rebels. Nearly a thousand were imprisoned, scores were transported to Van Diemen's Land, and many of the leaders were hanged. Those who escaped capture had to leave their homes and take refuge in the United States. Their plight inspired a young student, M. A. Gérin-Lajoie, to write Un Canadien errant, setting it to the tune of a popular French folk song, Si tu te mets anguille. Soon after the song appeared in 1842, French- Canadians were singing it from Acadia on the east coast to the distant reaches of the Northwest Territories.

Notes from Canada's Story in Song Edith Fowke, Alan Mills, Helmut Bloom (pub W.J. Cage Toronto (no date)
Although the governments had quickly crushed the rebellions in both Upper and Lower Canada, the continuing border raids fanned Tory anger and provoked harsh treatment of the captured rebels. Between December 1837 and the end of 1838 nearly a thousand people were imprisoned on charges of insurrection and treason in Upper Canada alone, and in each region some of the leaders were executed. The most notable victims were Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, who were hanged in Toronto, although a petition signed by eight thousand people asked for their reprieve. Scores of captured rebels were transported half way around the world to the penal colony of Van Dieman's Land, and many others were banished for life.
Those who were not captured had to flee from their homes to escape punishment. Many who found refuge in the United States longed to return to their families, but it was not safe for them to come back for many years. Among the refugees was Louis- Joseph Papineau, who later went to France, where he stayed until he was pardoned. It was not until 1849 that a general amnesty was granted and all the exiles were allowed to return.
These unhappy events inspired a young student, M. A. Gérin-Lajoie, to write this song, setting it to the tune of a familiar French folk song, "Si tu te mets anguille." It describes the feelings of one young French-Canadian exile as he wanders by the bank of a river that flows toward Canada and asks the stream to carry his sad greetings to his friends at home. Soon after the song appeared in 1842, it was being sung by French Canadians from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories, and it has continued popular to the present day.

30 May 17 - 03:47 AM (#3857800)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Monique

Here is what the Canadian Encyclopedia says about it.

30 May 17 - 06:40 PM (#3857963)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Joe_F

I suppose that the motto "Je me souviens" on Quebec license plates is a quotation from this song.

30 May 17 - 06:59 PM (#3857965)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Monique

Here is an explanation about it.

31 May 17 - 06:05 PM (#3858204)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Joe_F

A bad guess, it seems. Tho it would be hard for someone singing the song not to be reminded of the motto.

30 Jun 23 - 02:01 AM (#4175839)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Monique

Link to the song in Chansons populaires du Canada by Ernest Gagnon, 1880. Comments on pages 78-79, score and lyrics on pages 80-81

30 Jun 23 - 09:18 AM (#4175859)
Subject: ADD Version: Un Canadien Errant
From: GerryM

Seven verse version – I neglected to make a note of where (on the web) I found it:

UN CANADIEN ERRANT

Un Canadien errant,
Banni de ses foyers,
Parcourait en pleurant
Des pays étrangers.

Un jour, triste et pensif,
Assis au bord des flots,
Au courant fugitif
Il adressa ces mots:

"Si tu vois mon pays,
Mon pays malheureux,
Va, dis à mes amis
Que je me souviens d'eux.

"Ô jours si pleins d'appas
Vous êtes disparus,
Et ma patrie, hélas!
Je ne la verrai plus!

Plongé dans les malheurs,
Loin de mes chers parents,...
Je passe dans les pleurs,
D'infortunés moments....

Pour jamais séparé
Des amis de mon coeur,...
Hélas! oui, je mourrai,
Je mourrai de douleur....

"Non, mais en expirant,
Ô mon cher Canada!
Mon regard languissant
Vers toi se portera..."

Third line of third stanza, some versions have "Va, dis" while others have "Va dire". The first, I think, is "Va", imperative of "aller", meaning, Go!, followed by "dis", imperative of "dire", meaning say!, so it's "Go! Say to my friends...." The other version, "Va dire" is the future imperative. Just as English has "I'm going to do (whatever)" as a future tense, roughly equivalent to "I will do (whatever)", French has "Je vais faire", and "va faire" is the imperative form. So I think either one is correct French (but I will yield to anyone who actually speaks the language).

30 Jun 23 - 10:15 AM (#4175862)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Charmion

I have sung this song my whole life; it was one of my Dad’s favourites. “Va, dis à mes amis” is the way I learnt it.

GerryM’s grammar point is technically adequate, but not idiomatic and therefore wrong. The poet uses the informal second person “tu”, as if addressing a friend. Would you say, “Go to tell Aunt Rhody the old grey goose is dead?” I don’t think so. French people don’t either.

30 Jun 23 - 10:20 AM (#4175864)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Monique

"Va, dis à mes amis..." is indeed "Go! Say to my friends...". "Va dire à mes amis..." is some kind of order = "Go to/in order to say to my friends..." but I think you'd word it as "Go say to my friends..." in AE the way you say "Go do your homework!"

30 Jun 23 - 10:26 AM (#4175865)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Charmion

By the way, “je vais faire” is future indicative, not future imperative.

In French, the imperative mood has no future tense.

Come to think of it, English verbs don’t either.

30 Jun 23 - 11:16 AM (#4175869)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Stilly River Sage

Verbs - the single most difficult part of learning French (in my experience). I think I still have 501 French Verbs from graduate school.

Good luck with parsing the tenses in the song!

30 Jun 23 - 12:08 PM (#4175870)
Subject: RE: Origins:Un Canadien Errant
From: Monique

We certainly have a tricky conjugation but we don't use all those 570 verbs [Fr. Wiki that also reads... "This figure includes all the verbs of the 3rd group and their derivatives. The number of verb roots with irregular conjugation in French is actually about fifty. Are also included many so-called archaic verbs rarely used today. Many verbs of the 3rd group are regular: verbs in -dre (except the verbs in -oudre, "to take" and their compounds), in -aindre, -eindre or -oindre, in -aître or -oître (except "naitre" ), in -enir or -evoir: their conjugation is predictable. Conversely, there are a few irregular verbs in the first and second groups: "haïr" (in the present) or "envoyer" (in the future)].
Moreover we use only 6/8 tenses in the indicative, 2/4 in the subjunctive, 2/3 in the conditional moods, half of these tenses being compound tenses, so you only have to know the past participle. So French isn't the hardest language to learn for an English speaker (9/28 according to this site).
Last but not least, Verbix, a very useful tool to conjugate verbs in many languages!
Well, seems the thread has done like the Canadian guy: it's wandered!

30 Jun 23 - 01:01 PM (#4175873)
Subject: RE: Origins: Un Canadien Errant
From: Stilly River Sage

On the contrary - you've offered several helpful links for anyone who comes along who is trying to get just the right word to make the meaning work. Isn't that what so many of these conversations are about?