The French 'Voice of the People' set

Subject: Lyr Add: BUVONS À LA SANTÉ DU PRINCE / ... DU ROI
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:42 AM

BUVONS À LA SANTÉ DU PRINCE, BUVONS À LA SANTÉ DU ROI (French) Buvons à la santé du prince, Buvons à la santé du roi, Quand je la vois ma mignonnette, Mon petit cœur est toujours gai. (bis) Quand je suis assis à ma table ronde, Ma mignonnette sur mes genoux, Je lui dis tout bas à l'oreille : "Ma mignonnette, embrassons-nous !" (bis) "Comment veux-tu que je t'embrasse, L'on dit que tu vas me quitter Pour t'en aller donc à la guerre, Sur le Piémont, servir le roi." (bis) "Ah il faut bien que je m'y en aille Puisque le roi m' l'a commandé, Mais ce n'est pas pour nous y battre, Mais c'est seulement pour nous venger."(bis) Nous ne fumes pas à demi-campagne Qu'il me vint une pensée, Dieu m'envoya la voix d'une ange Que ma maîtresse était fiancée. (bis) Si elle est fiancée que vais-je faire ? Si elle est mariée où vais-je aller ? Là-haut, là-bas sur ces montagnes, Au pied d'une arbre à soupirer. (bis) J'y ai tant pleuré, versé des larmes, Que les ruisseaux en ont coulé. Petits ruisseaux, grandes rivières, Tous nos moulins sont entrainés. (bis) Les filles sont comme la lune, Elles sont sujettes au changement, Mais les garçons n' sont pas de même, Car ils les aiment bien tendrement. (bis Coirault : This song is made from the association of several themes among which you find those presents in : # 3008 The portrait (departure for Piedmont, the tears that make the mills turn). RADdO : EA 00202. # 3104 The vivandière (seller of food and drink allowed to follow an army) who prefers an officer (girls are like the moon). RADdO : EA 02532. # 2606 Réveillez-vous belle endormie I (Wake up, sleeping beauty –not Sleeping Beauty !) (the abandoned suitor who withdraws in the mountains). RADdO : EA 02480.

LET'S DRINK TO THE PRINCE'S HEALTH, LET'S DRINK TO THE KING'S HEALTH Let's drink to the prince's health, Let's drink to the king's health When I see my little cutie, My little heart is always gay (twice) When I'm sitting at my round table, My little cutie on my knees, I whisper in her ear: "My little cutie, let's kiss!" (twice) "How do you want me to kiss you, They say that you're going to leave me To go to war, in the Piedmont, To serve the king" (twice) "Ah, I do have to go there Since the king ordered me so, But it's not for fighting, Only for taking revenge" (twice) We weren't even half the way there When a thought came to my mind, God sent me the voice of an angel (saying) that my mistress (1) was engaged (twice) If she's engaged, what will I do? If she's married, where will I go? Up there, on these yonder mountains, At the foot of a tree, I will pine (twice) I wept so much, shed so many tears That the streams flowed, Little streams, large rivers, All our mills are carried away (twice) Girls are like the moon, They're subject to change, But boys are not like this For they love them very tenderly (twice)

(1) "mistress" at that time could (also) just refer to a man's sweetheart/beloved. The idea behind it was that he loved her so much that she was his mistress (the one who rules).
YouTube recording for the Coirault "the portrait" song type, "La Piémontaise"

You can hear the recording here.

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Subject: Lyr Add: PILLE PILLE MA ROUTOUTOU
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:43 AM

Here come the classy ones!!

PILLE PILLE MA ROUTOUTOU (Vendean) Pille pille ma routoutou Maroutou maroupille touderatou (bis) Touzeratou maroutou maroupille Touzeratou maroupillétou (bis)

PILE PILE MY ROUTOUTOU Pile pile my routoutou (plural) My routou (plural), my roupille touderatou (singular) (1) you will have all, my routou my roupille you will have all, my roupille and all

(1) Don't ask me what these things are, I don't know for sure, though since the topic of all these short songs is sex we might have a guess of something in plural (usually 2) together with something else in singular.

You can hear the recording here, it's the first song.

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Subject: Lyr Add: Y'ATIONS QUATRE À BINER MA CHATTE
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:43 AM

Y'ATIONS QUATRE À BINER MA CHATTE (Vendean) Y'ations quatre à biner ma chatte Y'ations cinq à la démêler (bis)

WE WERE FOUR TO COMB MY PUSSY We were four to comb my pussy (1) We were five to untangle it.

(1) you can never be sure of which kind of pussy it is about!

You can hear the recording here at 0:20.

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Subject: Lyr Add: AU BOUT DOU FOUR A L'AVAIT GRAND POUR
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:44 AM

AU BOUT DOU FOUR A L'AVAIT GRAND POUR (Vendean) Au bout dou four a l'avait grand pour Et au bout dou têt a l'avait grand fret

AT THE END OF THE OVEN SHE WAS VERY AFRAID At the end of the oven she was very afraid, At the end of the roof she was very cold.

You can hear the recording here at 0:27/8.

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Subject: Lyr Add: MON PÈRE BITAIT MA MÈRE
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:46 AM

MON PÈRE BITAIT MA MÈRE (Vendean) Mon père bitait ma mère Moi y bito la chambrère S'y'avions poué tcho p'tit bout qui pend Y pourrions pas biter les feuilles S'y'avions poué tcho p'tit bout qui pend Y pourrions pas biter tout l' temps

MY FATHER WOULD FUCK MY MOTHER My father would fuck (1) my mother I would fuck the chamber maid. If we hadn't this little piece that hangs, We couldn't fuck the girls If we hadn't this little piece that hangs, We couldn't fuck all the time.

(1) the Fr. verb is built on "bite" (= cock) and I could find no equivalent in Eng. I mean a verb meaning the same and built on a slang word for penis. Btw, every time we (French) see an ad reading "big bites" or "little bites" we can't refrain a smile.

You can hear the recording here at 0:36.

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Subject: Lyr Add: TROU DU CUL DE QUOI TE PLAINS-TU ?
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:46 AM

TROU DU CUL DE QUOI TE PLAINS-TU ? (French) Trou du cul de quoi te plains-tu N'es-tu pas bien dans l'allée de mes fesses Trou du cul de quoi te plains-tu N'es-tu pas bien dans l'allée de mon cul N'es-tu pas bien dans l'allée de mes fesses N'es-tu pas bien dans l'allée de mon cul

ASSHOLE, WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT? Asshole, what are you complaining about? Don't you feel well in the alley of my buttocks? Asshole, what are you complaining about? Don't you feel well in the alley of my ass? Don't you feel well in the alley of my buttocks? Don't you feel well in the alley of my ass?

You can hear the recording here at 0:50.
Recording

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Subject: Lyr Add: TOUT L' LONG DU BOIS J'AI BAISÉ ANGÈLE
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:47 AM

TOUT L' LONG DU BOIS J'AI BAISÉ ANGÈLE (French) Tout l' long du bois j'ai baisé Angèle Tout l' long du bois j'ai baisé trois fois (bis) Si ma casquette n'était pas tombée La quatrième passait comme les autres Si ma casquette n'était pas tombée La quatrième y aurait bien passée

ALL ALONG THE WOOD, I FUCKED ANGELA All along the wood, I fucked Angela All along the wood, I fucked three times (twice) If my cap hadn't fallen The fourth one would have happened as the others, If my cap hadn't fallen, The fourth one would have happened all right.

You can hear the recording here at 1:02.

End of the bawdy ones!

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Subject: Lyr Add: J'AI USÉ MES SOULIERS, BELLE
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:48 AM

J'AI USÉ MES SOULIERS, BELLE (French) J'ai usé mes souliers, belle Tout en allant t'y faire l'amour Pourquoi les usais-tu Marchais-tu pas sur l'herbette Pourquoi les usais-tu Marchais-tu pas à pieds nus ? RADdO : EA 01304.

I WORN OUT MY SHOES, BEAUTY I worn out my shoes, beauty, Going to make love to you. Why were you wearing them? Didn't you walk on the grass? Why were you wearing them? Didn't you walk barefoot?

In Fr "user" means both "to use" and "to wear out"

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:49 AM

Y A PLUS QUE DIX FILLES DANS UN PRÉ (French) Y a plus que dix filles dans un pré (bis) Et y avait Pint Et y avait Mint Et y avait Serpe et serpolet Et celle qui joue aux épinettes Et y avait Irène Celle que mon cœur aime. Coirault : 1813 Les dix filles dans un pré. RADdO : EA 00008.

THERE ARE TEN GIRLS LEFT IN A MEADOW There are ten girls left in a meadow (twice) And there was Pint, And there was Mint And there were Billhook and wild thyme And the one who plays the spinet (1) And there was Irene, The one my heart loves.

(1) I'm not sure she plays the spinet because though "épinette" does mean "spinet" in French we don't play "an instrument" (direct object), we play "of an instrument" (indirect object introduced by "de" –of) but … we don't play "a game" (direct object) we play "at a game". So if the girl was playing the spinet, it would be "celle qui joue de l'épinette" (in singular, we don't play spinets). The construction might be alright in the local dialect but it isn't in standard French in which the Fr. translation is supposed to be. Then… "épinette" is also a withy cage to fatten poultry and a tree (spruce). Let's say her playing the spinet is the most likely supposition though "jouer aux épinettes" might be the local name of game and you wouldn't know what it refers to unless you belong there.
UPDATE:Aug. 5th 2014. In an online dictionary, it reads that "jouer des épinettes" meant to have sex. In another one, it reads that it meant "to cheat, to swindle" but according to the context, I'd choose the former. Btw, the 2nd dictionary gives a lot of expressions based on "jouer" (to play) that meant "to have sex" ("faire le déduit" they would say formally!)

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:49 AM

NOUS VOILÀ BIEN DU MONDE ICI (French) Nous voilà bien du monde ici Nous voilà bien du monde là (bis) Celle que j'aime n'y est pas Ma charmante brunette Mon petit cœur n'est pas à moi Il est à ma maîtresse Car je la vois venir là-bas De sur son cheval noir et blanc À sa main droite tient un gant blanc Et de l'autre un étui d'argent Mes amourettes (1) y sont dedans Elles y sont bien étroitement Mais elles y sont plus largement Depuis Paris jusqu'à Rouen Et de Rouen jusqu'à Fécamp. Coirault : 7201 Le galant aux gants blancs. RADdO : EA 03128.

WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE HERE We have many people here We have many people there (twice) The one I love is not here My charming brunette. My little heart isn't mine It belongs to my mistress/beloved For I see her come over there On her black and white horse. In her right hand she holds a white glove And in the other a silver case. My love is inside. It's cramped in there But it's more comfortable From Paris to Rouen And from Rouen to Fécamp.

(1) "Amourettes" Cf note to "On the Bridge of Avignon" some posts above. If you ever come across a French recipe of "amourettes", they can be animals testicles or spinal chord (check the shape!).
NB: there are two mistakes in the lyrics printed on the Frémeaux leaflet ("celui" instead of "celle" and "je le vois" instead of "je la vois", which makes the song very puzzling. I corrected both of them.

You can listen to the recording here.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:50 AM

JE M'EN FUS TROUVER MA MAÎTRESSE (French) Je m'en fus trouver ma maîtresse (bis) Vers les onze heures à la minuit, par la fenêtre de son lit. (bis) "Mignonne, mignonne, dormez-vous ? (bis) Si vous dormez, réveillez-vous, c'est votre amant qui parle à vous." (bis) "Non, non, je n' dors ni je sommeille (bis) Toutes les nuits je pense à vous, mon cher amant, marions-nous." (bis) "J'en parlerai donc à ton père (bis) Et à ta mère, si elle veut, nous nous marierons tous les deux." (bis) "Bon paysan, donne-moi ta fille !" (bis) "Elle est trop jeune, elle n'a qu' quinze ans, faites l'amour en attendant" (bis) "Non, non, l'amour je n' puis la faire, (bis) Je l'ai faite deux ans passés et je trouve que c'est bien assez ! (bis) Je m'en irai sur ces montagnes, (bis) Sur ces montagnes, sur ces rochers, pour y pleurer mon temps passé." (bis) Coirault : 4710 Réveillez-vous belle endormie III (La supplique nocturne). RADdO : EA 02751.

I WENT TO MEET MY MISTRESS I went to meet my mistress (twice) Around eleven or midnight, by her bed(room) window (twice) "Cutie, cutie, are you sleeping? (twice) If you are, wake up, your lover is speaking to you" (twice) "No, no, I don't sleep or doze (twice) Every night I think of you, my dear love, let's get married" (twice) "Then I'll talk about it to your father (twice) And to your mother, if she wants, the both of us will get married (twice)" "Good peasant (1), give me your daughter" (twice) "She is too young, she's only fifteen, court her in the meanwhile (2) (twice) "No, no, I can't court her (her) (twice) I've courted her for two years and I find it's long enough! (twice) I will go on these mountains (twice) On these mountains, on these boulders, to mourn my past (twice)

(1) "paysan" in Fr hasn't the same pejorative connotation as in English
(2) "faire l'amour" (lit. to make love) here means to court (faire la cour). You can also find either expression in La Yoyette/Yeyette.

You can listen to the recording here.
Live rendition by Les Bons Voisins


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:51 AM

UN JOUR UN JOUR M'Y PREND ENVIE (French) Un jour un jour m'y prend envie De ma maîtresse la faire mourir La faire mourir de ci de loin Que ses parents le sauriont (1) point. (bis) Pris le cheval de mon père Son pistolet, ses forniments (2) Tout droit m'en suis n'allé Droit à la porte à ma bien aimée. (bis) Si vous dormez belle endormie Belle endormie si vous dormez Si vous dormez réveillez-vous C'est votre amant qui parle à vous. (bis) Ah ni je dors ni je sommeille Toute la nuit je pense en vous Toute la nuit je pense en vous Mon bel amant rapprochez-vous. (bis) Veux-tu venir belle Louise Que nous allions voir nos amis Que nous allions voir nos amis Pour ne plus rev'nir au pays. (bis) Et je l'ai pris par sa main blanche De sur ma selle je l'ai montée Tenez-vous bien belle Louison Je veux piquer de l'éperon. (bis) Le bon cheval noir comme un nègre (3) Et comme un lion désenchaîné Il s'élancit sans s'arrêter Jusqu'au milieu de la forêt. (bis) Là c'est ici belle Louise Là c'est ici qu'il faut mourir ! Mon bel amant si j'ai grand tort Donnez-moi le coup de la mort ! (bis) La belle a mis le pied par terre Le cœur tremblant, les larmes aux yeux Il la frappit si durement Que la belle a perdu le sang. (bis) La belle avait trois petits frères Le l'ont cherchée, l'ont point trouvée Le l'ont cherchée, l'ont point trouvée La belle est morte et enterrée. (bis) Coirault : 9804 L'amoureux de la servante. RADdO : EA 00132.

ONE DAY, ONE DAY, I GOT THE URGE One day, one day, I got the urge To make my mistress die. To make her die, here or far, But her parents wouldn't know it. (twice) Took my father's horse, His handgun, his (soldier) equipment, I went straight to, Straight to my beloved's door (twice) "If you're asleep, sleeping beauty, Sleeping beauty, if you're asleep, If you're asleep, wake up, It's your lover speaking to you." (twice) "Ah, I neither sleep nor doze, All night long I think of you. All night long I think of you, My handsome lover, come closer." (twice) "Do you want to come, beautiful Louise, So we'd go to visit our friends, So we'd go to visit our friends To never come back home?" (twice) And I took her by her white hand, I brought her up on my saddle "Hold on carefully, beautiful Louison, I want to break into a gallop" (lit.~ to prick the spurs). (twice) The good horse (as) black like a negro And as unchained as a lion Thrust itself without stopping As far as the middle of the forest (twice) "Now, it's here, beautiful Louise Now, it's there you must die!" "My handsome lover, if I'm very wrong, Give me the death blow!" (twice) The fair maiden set foot on the ground With her heart trembling and tears in her eyes. He hit her so hard That the fair maiden lost her blood. (twice) The fair maiden had three little brothers They looked for her, didn't find her They looked for her, didn't find her The fair maiden is dead and buried. (twice)

(1) "sauriont" (standard French "sauraient") in some French dialects, the conjugation differs a litlle from the standard language.
(2) the standard spelling is "fourniments" –from the verb "fournir" = supply.
(3) "Nègre" (from the Spanish "negro" = black) was first an equivalent of "negro", referring to a Black slave –the only Black people they knew at that time I'm afraid. Then it was used as an equivalent of the N-word (and still is so far). It also now means a ghostwriter.

Personal note: not only we have psychopaths in real life, some people felt the need to have them in songs too!

You can hear the recording here
Live rendition by the duet De ci de Loin
Live rendition by Amzéom
Live rendition by Ciac Boum


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:52 AM

LE ROI RENAUD (French) Le roi Renaud revint de guerre, vain, Portant ses tripes dans ses mains. Sa mère qu'était sur le créneau A vu venir le roi Renaud. "Renaud, Renaud, réjouis-toi, Ta femme est accouchée d'un roi." "Ni de la femme ni du fils Je ne saurai me réjouir. Ma mère, ma mère, allez devant, Préparez-moi un beau lit blanc. Pas longtemps j'y demeurerai, Dans la nuit je trépasserai. Faites-le moi faire ici bas, Que l'accouchée n'entende pas." Et quand ce fut sur les minuit, Le roi Renaud rendit l'esprit. Et quand ce fut le matin jour, Que les valets pleuraient toujours, Ce ne fut l'heure du déjeuner, Que les servantes ont pleuré. "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Que nos valets pleurent ici ?" "Ma fille en baignant nos chevaux, Ont laissé noyer le plus beau." "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Pour un cheval pleurer ainsi, Quand le roi Renaud reviendra, Plus beaux chevaux ramènera !" "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Pourquoi j'entends cogner z'ici ?" "Ma fille, ce sont les charpentiers Qui raccommodent le plancher." "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Pourquoi les cloches sonnent ici ?" "Ma fille, c'est la procession, Qui sort pour les rogations." "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Que les petits chantent ici ?" "Ma fille, c'est la procession Qui fait le tour de la maison." Quand elle fut pour relever, A la messe elle voulut aller. Quand ce fut passé les huit jours, Voulut reprendre ses atours. "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Quel habit prendrai-je aujourd'hui ?" "Prenez le vert, prenez le gris, Prenez le noir pour mieux choisir." "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Qu'est-ce que ce noir signifie ?" "Femme qui relève d'enfant, C'est le noir qui est le plus seyant." Quand à l'église elle fut rentrée, Un cierge on lui a présenté. Aperçut en s'agenouillant La terre fraiche sous son banc. "Dites-moi ma mère, ma mie, Pourquoi la terre s'est rafraichie ?" "Ma fille pour ne rien vous cacher, Renaud est mort et enterré." "Puisque le roi Renaud est mort, Voici la clé de mon trésor. Voici mes bagues et mes joyaux, Nourrissez bien le fils Renaud. Terre ouvre-toi, terre fends-toi, Que j'aille trouver Renaud mon roi." Terre s'ouvrit, terre fendit Et se fut la belle engloutie. Coirault : 5311 Jean Renaud. RADdO : EA 01206.

KING RENAUD King Renaud came back from war, vain, Holding his guts in his hands. His mother who was on the crenel Saw king Renaud arrive. "Renaud, Renaud, rejoice, Your wife has given birth to a king" "Neither of my wife nor son I could rejoice. Mother, mother, go ahead Prepare a beautiful white bed for me, I will stay in it no long, During the night I'll pass away. Have it made here, downstairs So that the new mother (1) doesn't hear, And when midnight came, King Renaud gave up his ghost. And when day break came, The servants were still crying, Before breakfast time, The maidens were crying. "Tell me, mother dear What do our servants cry for here/now?" "Daughter, as they gave the horses a bath, They let the most beautiful drown". "Tell me, mother dear, To cry so much for a horse, When king Renaud is back He'll bring back more beautiful ones!" "Tell me, mother dear, Why do I hear knocking here/now?" "Daughter, those are the carpenters Mending the flooring" "Tell me, mother dear, Why are the bells ringing here/now?" "Daughter, it's the procession Going out for rogations." "Tell me, mother dear, What are the children singing here/now?" "Daughter, it's the procession Going around the house" When she was to go out again (2) She wanted to go to mass. After eight days, She wanted to wear her finery again. "Tell me, mother dear, Which dress will I wear today?" "Wear the green one, wear the gray one, Wear the black one as the best choice" "Tell me, mother dear, What does this black color mean?" "For a woman who's just given birth, Black is the color that suits her best." When she had entered the church, She's been given a candle. She noticed, when kneeling down, Fresh earth under her bench. "Tell me, mother dear, Why has the earth been dug?" "Daughter, to be quite frank Renaud is dead and buried." "Since king Renaud is dead, Here is the key of my treasure. Here are my rings and my jewels, Feel Renaud's son well. Earth, open, earth, break open For me to go with Renaud, my king." The earth opened, the earth broke open And the fair lady was swallowed up.

(1) A new mother is called "une accouchée", lit. "a delivered one"
(2) "relever" meant for a woman who'd given birth, to go out of home for the first time to go to mass and receive the priest's blessing.

We already have a King Renaud thread with a fine translation on Mudcat. Why, oh why did I find it only when I was done with this one!!!

You can hear the recording here
Yves Montand's rendition (lightly different lyrics);
Recording by Ambiance (French Canadian band)


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:52 AM

LES GARÇONS SONT TROMPEURS (French) Les garçons sont trompeurs, La chose en est certaine. Sont-ils auprès de vous : "Belle que je vous aime !" Ah le petit gueux, le petit coquin, le petit trompeux, Tu disais que tu m'aimais petit gueux ! Sont-ils auprès de vous : "Belle que je vous aime !" Ah, sont-ils éloignés, Ils ne disent plus de même ! Ah le petit gueux… Ils se disent l'un à l'autre : "Connais-tu bien une telle ? Elle croit de sur ma foi, Que j'ai d' l'amitié pour elle. Mais pour lui faire voir que non, Que je me moque d'elle, J'irai faire l'amour, Tout proche de chez elle. Si elle a mal à la tête, Qu'elle se la bandelette ! Si elle a mal au jarret, Qu'elle tire sa jarretière ! Si elle a mal au talon, Qu'elle batte la semelle !" Coirault : 2414 Les garçons sont trompeurs. RADdO : EA 00305.

BOYS ARE DECEPTIVE Boys are deceptive, It is certain. Are they near you? "Beauty, how much I love you!" Ah, the little rogue, the little rascal, the little deceiver, You were saying that you loved me, you little rogue! (1) Are they near you? "Beauty, how much I love you!" Ah, are they far? They don't say the same any more! Ah, the little rogue…. They tell one another "Do you know So-and-So well? She thinks, on my word, That I feel love for her. But to show her I don't, That I don't care for her, I'll go to make love Very close to her house. If her head aches Let her bandage it! If her calf hurts, Let her remove her garter! If her heel hurts Let her go to and fro!

(1) Gueux (out dated) means "beggar" but is used only in historical contexts nowadays. It can be heard –though seldom- meaning "rogue, rascal". You won't hear "trompeux" either.
Sheet music for the verses.

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:53 AM

DEDANS LA VILLE DE PLAISANTEMENT (French) Dedans la ville de Plaisantement Il y a-t-une jeune fille qui n'a pas d'amant. Elle porte d' la dentelle C'est pour mieux se faire voir La belle demoiselle S'en va se promener. Dans son chemin elle a rencontré Un jeune amoureux qui l'a t-emmenée. "Bonjour madame l'hôtesse Nous voudrions coucher Moi et ma femme Nous voudrions loger." Oh quand ça fut de sur les minuit La p'tite brunette n'y pouvait point dormir (bis) Ramasse ses culottes Son or et son argent La p'tite brunette Elle s'en va devant. Oh quand ça fut oui le matin jour Le beau galant souhaitit le bonjour. (bis) "Bonjour madame l'hôtesse Oh j'ai été volé Je suis sans culotte Ainsi que sans le sou !" Si vous l'aviez vu quàu gentil galant Si vous l'aviez vu l' jour d'auparavant Il était sans culotte Ainsi que sans le sou Que sans sa chemise On aurait bien tout vu ! not listed by Coirault. RADdO : EA 06358.

IN JOKING TOWN In Joking town There's a young girl who has no lover. She wears lace, It's to better be seen. The beautiful maiden Goes to stroll about. On her way she met A young lover who took her along. "Good day, Mrs the hostess, We would like to sleep here, Me and my wife, We would want to stay." And when midnight came The little brunette couldn't sleep (twice) Gather his breeches, His gold and his silver The little brunette Goes away. Oh, when morning came The handsome suitor greeted. (1) (twice) "Good morning, Mrs the hostess, Oh, I've been robbed I have no breeches (2) And I'm penniless too!" If you'd seen that(3) nice suitor If you'd seen him the day before He had no breeches And was penniless too Without his shirt, We'd have seen everything!

(1) "souhaitit" – verb "souhaiter" ,1st group of conjugation, conjugated as a verb of the 2nd group ("souhaitit" instead of "souhaita"). This line literally translates as "the handsome man wished the good day".
(2) "culotte" was the knee-length piece of a man's clothing before it came to mean a woman's panties. Hence the expression "porter la culotte" –to wear the culotte- referring to a woman who's in charge at home, and the name of "sans-culottes" (without-culottes) during the French Revolution, referring to men of the plebs who rejected the ancient régime knee-length breeches to wear long pants to show their patriotism.
(3) I take "quàu" to be "that" derived to the Latin for "that" while the only demonstrative determiner in standard Fr. is derived from the Latin for "this"

You can listen to the recording here.
Live rendition by the Ensemble Obsidienne
Live rendition by Éloïse Decazes & Éric Chenaux


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 08:55 AM

CE SONT TROIS GALIONS D'ESPAGNE (French) Ce sont trois galions d'Espagne, Prenez courage, Dedans la flotte ont pris congé, Prenez courage, beaux mariniers. C'était pour faire le tour du monde, Sans jamais la terre y aborder. Au bout de trois années entières, Le pain, le vin, leur z'a manqué. A fallu faire la courte paille, Pour voir lequel qui sera mangé. La courte paille resta z'au maître, C'est lui doit être mangé. "Y en a-t-il un de l'équipage Qui voudrait m'y manger ? Y en a-t-il un de l'équipage Qui dans la hune il veut monter ? Il aura le navire dessous mes pieds Et ma fille en mariage." C'était l' plus jeune de l'équipage Que dans la hune y a monté. Puis quand il fut dedans la hune, Il s'y mit à rire et à chanter. "J'y vois la tour de Babylone Et la terre de tous côtés. J'y vois les moutons dans la plaine Et ma maîtresse à s'y baigner. J'y vois les cheminées qui fument Pour nous y apprêter à dîner." Il était midi cinq minutes Quand l'ancre au fond y a tombé. Coirault : 7103 La courte-paille. RADdO : EA 00387.

THOSE ARE/WERE THREE GALLEONS FROM SPAIN Those are/were three galleons from Spain Take courage They left the navy, Take courage, you handsome sailors (1) It was to sail around the world Without ever landing. At the end of three full years They went short of bread and wine. They had to draw straws To know which one would be eaten. The short straw was left to the master He was the one to be eaten. "Is there one from the crew Who would want to eat me? Is there one from the crew Who want to climb in the top? (2) He will get the ship below my feet And my daughter as a bride." It's the youngest of the crew Who climbed in the top, Then when he was in the top, He began laughing and singing. "I see the Babylone tower And land on all sides. I see the sheep in the plain And my mistress a-bathing. I see the chimneys smoke To cook a dinner for us." (3) It was five past noon When the anchor touched the bottom.

(1) A "marinier" -period- is a bargeman and a galleon is not a barge. Here it could stand for "marin" (sailor) or as a short for "officier marinier" (petty officer)
(2) Since it's "dans la hune" ("in" the top), I take it to be "in the crow's nest", which is in French "la gabie" but though there's at least one sea shanty that has the word "gabier" (top man), it doesn't seem there's any with "gabie" while there are some with "hune".
(3) In province (read "outside Paris") people would have "déjeuner" (breakfast) in the morning, "dîner" (dinner) at noon and "souper" (supper) in the evening while in Paris people would have "petit déjeuner" (lit. "small breakfast) in the morning, "déjeuner" (breakfast) at noon and "dîner" (dinner) in the evening. This is still accurate nowadays though Paris's custom has spread.

You can listen to the recording here
END OF CD 2


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:26 PM

CD 3 AUVERGNE LIMOUSIN (Leaflet)

You can listen to the whole CD here

MINUIT VIENT DE SONNER (French) Minuit vient de sonner À l'horloge voisine J'appelle le sommeil Hélas il ne vient pas. Du fond de ma prison J'entends la foule qui gronde Et crie à mort, à mort À ce bandit d' fainéant. Simple fils d'ouvrier J'ai roulé dans la débine Mon sort était tracé Comme celui d'un roi. Et tous ces bons bourgeois Qui m'ont tous condamné Ils m'ont condamné Aux travaux forcés. Mourir sur l'échafaud C'est une mort atroce Puisqu'il le faut Mourons sans trembler. "Adieu mes chers parents Donnez-moi du courage Et toi mon frère Jean Tâche de rester sage Si tu as des enfants de bien les élever. Recommande leur bien Surtout de rester sages Car à une mauvaise vie Il n'y a rien z'à gagner. Et toi Marie Astier Ma charmante maîtresse Viendra peut-être un jour Je pourrai t'embrasser ?" Oui c'est peut-être demain Que l'on me guillotine J'entends sonner L'heure de mon trépas. not indexed by Coirault. RADdO : 06359.

MIDNIGHT JUST STROKE Midnight just stroke At the clock nearby I call sleep, Alas, it doesn't come. From the bottom of my prison, I hear the crowd rumble And shout "Death, death For this lazy rascal." A simple worker's son, I fell into poverty My fate was as mapped out As a king's And all those good bourgeois Who all sentenced me They sentenced me To penal servitude. To die on the scaffold (1) Is an atrocious death, Since I must, Let me (2) die without fear (lit. without trembling) "Adieu, my dear parents Give me courage And you, my brother John Try to stay good, If you have children, (try to) raise them well. Do recommend them To stay good above all For, from leading a bad life There's nothing to gain. And you Marie Astier, My charming mistress Maybe a day will come When I can kiss you? Yes, maybe tomorrow They'll behead me, I hear the time of my death Strike.

(1) In French, to die on the scaffold implies to be beheaded by "la guillotine".
(2) the original lyrics have it as "us" though it's not the royal "we"

You can listen to the recording here.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:27 PM

LE PREMEIR JORN DE MAS NÒÇAS (Occitan -Auvergnat dialect- and French) Le premeir jorn de mas nòças Davinatz c' qu' m'es arribat ? N'a vengut 'n òme a pòrta Didòn didòn dindo-nèna S'apelava le cusin Didòn-dena didòn-di. O dijatz donc paura femna Ont botarem quel òme aicí ? "Nous le mettrons dans une chambre Dans le lit que nous avons." Mes quand venguèt las vonze oras Le nòvi s'es endormit. La nòvia n'a mis pied à terre Per anar jaire amb le cusin. Mes quand venguèt las doas oras Le nòvi s'es revelhat. "O portatz-me una chandela Tròbe pas ma femna aicí !" La chandela es arribada, Troba la femna amb le cusin. "O le diable ta parentessa Tant de cusins n'i a aicí ! Je suis cornard le dimanche Mon voisin l'est le lundi. Nous ferons voyage ensemble Vendre nos cornes à Paris. Nous en ferons des tabatières Des manches de couteaux aussi. Ça fera pour les belles dames Feront priser leurs maris" Coirault: 5915 Le cousin Jacobin. RADdO : 01468.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF MY WEDDING On the first day of my wedding Guess what happened to me? A man came at my door, Didòn didòn dindo-nèna He was called the cousin Didondaine didondi. "Oh, tell me, poor wife, Where will we accommodate this man?" "We'll put him in a bedroom, In the bed we have." When it was eleven The groom went asleep, The bride set foot on the floor To go to sleep with the cousin. But when it was two, The groom woke up. "Oh, bring me a candle, I can't find my wife here!" The candle was brought (lit. arrived) He found his wife with the cousin. "Oh, the hell of your relatives/tribe, All those cousins in here!" I'm a cuckold(1) on Sundays My neighbor is on Mondays We'll travel together To sell our horns in Paris. We'll make tobacco boxes, Knives handles too. This will do for the beautiful ladies They'll have their husbands snuff.

(1) the Fr word for "cuckold" is "cocu" from the word for "cuckoo", "cornard" means "horned one/horns bearer".

You can listen to the recording here.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:29 PM

LA DEMENAM LA NÒSTRA NÒVIA (Occitan -Lengadocian dialect) La demenam la nòstra nòvia La demenam coma l'avam (bis) E pas rossèla ni jantonèla Mès cau ben faire coma se bo èra ! Tirolirolirolirolirolirolà Tiroliroliro tiroliroliro Tirolirolirolirolirolirolà Tiroliroliro la-la-la Passant per l'òrt, panam las rabas Nos en anent las manjarem Pièrre l'atrapa la fot per tèrra Amb lo bilhon li fot pel cuou ! Tiro… Tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la mieuna Tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la miá (bis) Garçons que sètz aquí Fasètz dançar la nòvia Garçons que sètz aquí Fasètz-la devertir E donatz-li un jorn de jòia Garçons que sètz aquí E donatz-li un jorn de jòia Aicí. Ne'n calrà plus parlar D'anar per las velhadas Ne'n calrà plus parlar D'anar pels bals dançar Dintre dins lo mainatge Quite la libertat E mon devertinage Es n'anat (bis)

WE TAKE OUR BRIDE We take our bride We take her the way she is She's neither blonde nor pretty But we must do as if she were! Tirolirolirolirolirolirolà Tiroliroliro tiroliroliro Tirolirolirolirolirolirolà Tiroliroliro la-la-la When we pass through the kitchen garden we steal the turnips When we leave we'll eat them. Peter catches her, he puts her on the ground, With his rod he hits her ass! Tiro... Touch yours for I touch mine, Touch yours for I touch mine. Boys who are there, Have the bride dance/dance with the bride Boys who are there, Have her have fun. And give her a day of joy, Boys who are there And give her a day of joy Here/now. I must drop the idea of Going to evening gatherings, I must drop the idea of Going to dance. I enter marriage I leave liberty And my enjoying myself Is over (lit. has left)

Témoignage, "La cabrette le jour des noces": "Ça c'est des machins nuptiaux, mais anciens, parce que dans le temps, on allait chercher la mariée à la maison avec la cabrette comme vous et alors on marchait à pied, il y avait pas de voiture. Et alors le musicien était devant, le "cabretaire", avec la cabrette, et il jouait ça, et on suivait derrière et on chantait et alors et il jouait ça et en patois, et c'était joli, eh ! Ça c'est la marche nuptiale de dans le temps. Quand moi, je me suis mariée, c'était comme ça." "Vous savez, quand il y avait quatre ou cinq kilomètres aller et autant retour… " "C'est comme d'ici vous allez à Pons à pied, le cabretaire derrière… mais c'était joli ; il avait un gros bouquet ici, à la cabrette il y avait des rubans bleus, verts, rouge, et puis ça flottait et puis il jouait, la cabrette… tiiiii tarariaaaaa… Tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la mieuna, tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la miá, tilalalia… mais c'était joli, la cabrette, moi j'aime ça.


Story (1) "The cabrette (local bagpipe) on wedding days". "This is wedding stuff, but old, because in the old days, people would fetch the bride at home with the cabrette, as you do, and they would walk, there was no cars. The musician was ahead, the cabretaire (piper) with his cabrette and he would play this, and we would follow and sing, and he would play that, and in patois, and it was pretty! This is the wedding march from days of old. When I got married, it was like this". "You know, when there were 4 or 5 km (~3 miles) to and as much back…" "It's as if from here, you'd walk to Pons, the cabretaire behind… but it was pretty, there was a big bunch of flowers here, to the cabrette there were ribbons, blue ones, green ones, red ones, they would float, and he would play, the cabrette tiiii tarariaaaaaa. Tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la mieuna, tòca la tiá que ieu tòque la miá, tilalalia… but it was pretty; the cabrette, I like it!

(1) I thought it was an interesting account of the way weddings were in those days of old, it's why I translated it even if it's not a song.

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:29 PM

ADIEU PRIVAS PETITE VILLE (French) Adieu Privas petite ville Je te quitte c'est pour longtemps. (bis) Je te quitte c'est pour longtemps, naviguons ma brunette Je te quitte c'est pour longtemps, naviguons en avant. Je ne regrette pas la ville, ni les bourgeois qui sont dedans Ni les bourgeois qui sont dedans, naviguons ma brunette Ni les bourgeois qui sont dedans, naviguons en avant. Je ne regrette qu'une fille, une fille de dix-huit ans Une fille de dix-huit ans, naviguons ma brunette Une fille de dix-huit ans, naviguons en avant. Coirault : 6514 Que regrettes-tu en partant. RADdO : 03052.

FAREWELL PRIVAS LITTLE TOWN Farewell Privas little town I leave you for long (twice) I leave you for long, let's sail my brunette, I leave you for long, let's sail forwards. I don't regret the town, nor the bourgeois in there either, Nor the bourgeois in there either, let's sail my brunette Nor the bourgeois in there either, let's sail forwards. I only regret a girl, an eighteen year old girl, An eighteen year old girl, let's sail my brunette An eighteen year old girl, let's sail forwards.

You can listen to the recording here
Free sheet music


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:32 PM

SOS LE PONT D'ORLEANS (Occitan -Lemosin dialect) Sos le pont d'Orleans Marguerite 'la y lave. Chantant le rossignolet Le rossignolet (bis) La vit venir d'alai Sieis grands cavaliers de guerre. Lo premier, eu li disset : "Dio, ma petite Marguerite !" Lo deuxieme, eu li disset : "Dio, voldria bien t'esposar !" Lo troisieme, eu li disset : "Dio, au fond de la granda prada !" Lo quatrieme, eu li disset : "Dio, nos li farem une grande virade !" Lo cinquieme, eu li disset : "Dio, nos li rentrarem dedins la grande broalhe !" Lo sixieme, eu li disset : "Dio, nos li farem l'amor !" RADdO : 06360.

UNDER ORLEANS BRIDGE Under Orleans bridge Margaret was doing her washing there (1) The nightingale was singing, The nightingale (lit. "little nightingale") (twice) She saw six tall, war horsemen Come from afar. The first said to her (2) "Say, my little Margaret!" "The second said to her "Say, I'd want to marry you!" The third said "Say, at the bottom of the big meadow!" The fourth said "Say, we'll take her for a long walk!" The fifth said "Say, we'll take her in the big wasteland!" The sixth said "Say, we'll make love to her!"

(1) The translation into French is given as "gets up" but I'm not sure she does. First there are different songs on this theme and the girl (most often "Catarina") is usually washing her laundry "lava (present)/lavava (imperfect)"; then: she gets up from under a bridge? was she really sleeping there? to get up period in this context means to get up from bed in the morning, not just to stand up; besides nightingales sing at night so unless she was some sort of night owl to get up at night and be able to see horsemen come in the dark I take 'la y lave' to be the verb 'lavar/lavâ' (to wash)

(2) Though all verses but the first two have "eu li disset" (he said to her/he told her) I kept "to her" when they were actually speaking to her.

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:34 PM

FAI-LO CORNARD MA FILHA (Occitan -Lengadocian) Fai-lo cornard ma filha Ton paire zo èra ben (bis) Ta maire lo prestava E enquèra l'a ben ! (bis) Presta-lo-me ma filha Que te lo rendrai ben (bis) RADdO : 06363.

MAKE HIM A CUCKOLD, DAUGHTER Make him a cuckold, daughter Your father well was one. (twice) Your mother did lend it And she still has it! (twice) Lend it to me, girl, I'll give it back to you. (twice)

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:35 PM

PASSANT PAR PARIS, VIDANT LA BOUTEILLE (French) Passant par Paris, vidant la bouteille, (bis) Un de mes amis me dit à l'oreille, bon, bon, bon, Le bon vin m'endort, l'amour me réveille, Le bon vin m'endort, l'amour me réveille encore Un de mes amis me dit à l'oreille (bis) Jean prend garde à toi, l'on courti' ta belle, bon, bon, bon, Le bon vin… Courtise qui le voudra, je me fie z'en elle. J'ai eu de son cœur la fleur la plus belle Dans un beau lit blanc créé de dentelles. J'ai eu trois garçons tous trois capitaines L'un est à Paris, l'autre à La Rochelle Et l'autre à Bordeaux courtisant les belles Et l' père est ici qui assure la ficelle. Coirault : 2514 J'ai trouvé rival. RADdO : 00207.

GOING THROUGH PARIS Going through Paris, drinking (lit. emptying the bottle),(twice> One of my friends tells me in my hear, well, well, well, The good wine makes me sleep, love awakes me, The good wine makes me sleep, love awakes me again One of my friends tells me in my hear "John, beware, your beloved is being courted" well, well, well, The good wine... "Court may whoever wants to, I trust her I got from her heart the most beautiful flower In a beautiful bed created (1) with lace I had three boys all three captains One is in Paris, the other in La Rochelle The third one in Bordeaux courting the girls And the father's here, insuring (2) the string."

(1) "créé"(created) must be a mishearing, it's usually "gréé" (rigged)
(2) "qui assure la ficelle" might mean "who insures/belays the string" (as it might mean "insuring the dough", "ficelle" being one of the many slang words for money) but I take it to be a mishearing since it's usually sung as "qui hale sur la ficelle" (pulling from the string/rope), the verb "haler" (to haul, to tow) was used in very specific contexts usually related to the navy and "Passant par Paris" isn't a "true" sea shanty.

I took the translation I'd already done in this thread where you can also find the Provençal version of it.

You can hear the recording here
Another recording
Interesting version by the French Canadian band La bottine souriante
Another rendition
Lyrics, score, midi and mp3


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:36 PM

EN MILLE HUIT CENT VINGT (French) En mille huit cent vingt Ce fut un assassin par un de nos soutiens Un grand prince de France Se trouvant sans défense Il fut assassiné par un garçon sellier. Mais ce garçon sellier Il fut bien attrapé par un vieux grenadier Il cria aux hommes et forte Mais d'une voix plus forte : "On assassine ici le duc de Berry ! " Sa femme vient de la maison tout pleurant De la maison tout criant : "Oh malheureuse France, Voilà la récompense D'être venue ici pour perdre mon mari ! " "Duchesse ne crie pas tant, Aie soin de notre enfant Je ne suis pas mourant Conduis-moi z'à l'hôtel Le coup n'est pas mortel." Mais à minuit on entend un grand bruit Tout autour de son lit "Adieu charmante duchesse Il faut que je te laisse Apporte mon enfant entre mes bras mourants. Il faut que je te quitte, Mais d'un regret bien triste On mettra un prince à ma place, Dieu en fasse la grâce Mais ce que je voudrais le bonheur d'un Français." RADdO : 06361.

IN EIGHTEEN AND TWEETY In eighteen and twenty It was a murderer, by one of our supports (1) A great prince of France, Being defenseless Was murdered by a saddler boy. But this saddler boy Was caught by an old grenadier He shouted to the men and loud But with a louder voice, "The duke of Berry is being murdered here!" His wife comes from home weeping, From home crying, "Oh woe is France, Here is the reward To have come here to loose my husband!" "Duchess, don't cry so much, Take care of our child, I'm not dying, Have me brought to the hotel, The blow isn't lethal." But at midnight, they hear a great noise Around his bed, "Adieu, charming duchess, I have to leave you, Bring my child between my dying arms. I have to leave you, But with a very sad regret. They'll put a prince in my place, God may allow it, But what I'd want is the happiness of the Frenchmen"

(1) This sentence is very weird, it makes no sense! There must be some mishearing somewhere though it can't be "assassin" or "soutiens" because of the rhyme

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:38 PM

CINQ SOS PER LA CHAMBRIERA (Occitan -Lemosin dialect) Cinq sos per la chambriera Dos sos per lo vaileton (bis) Quo es pro char per la chambriera Quo es pas pro per lo vaileton ! (bis) RADdO : 06362

FIVE PENCE FOR THE CHAMBERMAID Five pence for the chambermaid Two pence for the young (male) servant (1) (twice) It's expensive enough for the chambermaid It's not enough for the little servant! (twice)

(1) it can't be "la vaileton" as typed on the leaflet, "la" is the feminine article and though in some dialects this "la" is pronounced "lo" ("loh" for you, with an "o" more or less open) it's never the other way round; "vaileton" is a boy, the feminine would be "vailetona" but another word would be used for a girl.

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:38 PM

LA PASSION DE JESUS CRIST (Occitan -Lemosin dialect) La passion de Jesus Crist N'es tant trista, dolanta Escotetz-la pitits e grands Si la voletz apprendre Las aurelhas son per escotar La bocha per la dire Nòstre Senhor se vei permenar Tot pendut coma un ange N'emmena degun coma se Mas Sent Jan e Sent Pierre Quand sigueren a mieg chamin Tròben belcòp de monde Disset sent Pierre a sent Jan Granda rejoïssença Sent Jan disset a sent Pierre Quò es granda traïssença Tu ne'n veiràs deman a miegjorn Ne'n veiràs l'experiança Tu ne'n veiràs deman melhor Ne'n veiràs l'esperiança Tu ne'n veiràs mon cuer percé Per mila còps de lança Tu ne'n veiràs mon sang couler Tot lo long de mes membres

THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST The passion of Jesus Christ Is so sad and painful. Listen to it, children and adults (lit. little and big ones) If you want to learn it. The ears are made to listen The mouth to tell it. Our Lord goes to stroll "Hung" like an angel. (1) He takes nobody along But Saint John and Saint Peter. When (they were) half the way there They find a lot of people. Saint Peter tells Saint John Great rejoicing Saint John tells Saint Peter "It's a great treason." "You'll see tomorrow at noon, You'll see the experience You'll see better tomorrow, You'll see the experience. You'll see my heart pierced By a thousand spear blows You'll see my blood drip Along my limbs."

(1) I take it to mean "hanging from nowhere" in the sky

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:41 PM

ROSSIGNOLET CHARMANT, ROSSIGNOLET SAUVAGE (French) “Rossignolet charmant, rossignolet sauvage, Apprends-moi ton langage, apprends-moi à chanter, Apprends-moi la manière comment l’amour se fait.” “Comment l’amour se fait, je m’en vais te le dire. Faut aller voir les filles, les embrasser souvent, En leur disant la belle, je serai ton amant.” “Si tu es mon amant, je serai ta maîtresse, Je serai ta maîtresse, maîtresse pour longtemps, On couchera ensemble malgré tous nos parents.” “La belle dans ton jardin, y a t-une belle rose, Y a t-une belle rose, belle dans ton jardin. Permets-moi donc, la belle, que j’y mette la main.” “Pour y mettre la main, y a bien des choses à faire. Apporte-moi la lune, le soleil à la main, Tu toucheras la rose qui est dans mon jardin.” “Pour t’apporter la lune, la lune elle est bien haute, La lune elle est bien haute, le soleil est bien loin, Tu n’auras pas la rose qui est dans mon jardin.” Coirault : 122 Rossignolet du bois. RADdO : 01211.

CHARMING NIGHTINGALE, WILD NIGHTINGALE "Charming nightingale, wild nightingale, Teach me your language, teach me to sing, Teach me the way to make love." (1) "How to make love, I'm going to tell you, You must go see the girls, kiss them often Telling them 'Beauty, I'll be your lover'" "If you are my lover, I'll be your mistress, I'll be your mistress, mistress for long, We'll sleep together in spite of all our parents" "Beauty, in your garden there is a beautiful rose, There is a beautiful rose, beauty, in your garden, Allow me, beauty, to put my hand on it" "To put your hand on it, there are many things to do. Bring me the moon, the sun in your hand, You'll touch the rose which is in my garden". "To bring you’re the moon, the moon is very high, The moon is very high, the sun is so far." "You will not have the rose which is in my garden".

(1) I don't think he's asking for a class of sexual education. "To make love" would mean to court a girl -which could include making love as we understand it nowadays, but not necessarily though the chances are that he'd try to. If you consider the lyrics, he did try!

You can listen to the recording here
Slightly different version
A quite different arrangement
Malicorne recording


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 06:09 PM

The last tune on the CD is just played, but it has lyrics…

PARA LO LOP (Occitan) E para lo lop, pichona/pichòta/pitiòta (1) Para lo lop, E para lo lop, pichona/pichòta/pitiòta Para lo lop, Para lo lop que t'empòrta, que t'empòrta, Para lo lop que t'empòrta l'anhelon/los motons.

BEWARE OF THE WOLF Beware of the wolf, girl (lit. little one) Beware of the wolf, Beware of the wolf, girl Beware of the wolf, Beware of the wolf that takes, that takes, Beware of the wolf that takes your lamb/sheep.

(1) The word meaning "little one" is different according to the dialects.

Some people have added lyrics to this song, some about today's issues concerning the languages.

END OF CD 3

Looking for information I came across Vitrifolk.be. It's in French but you can find sheet music ("partitions") lyrics ("paroles") among many other topics.
UPDATE(2022/06/18): this site no longer exists at this address but you'll find their archives there

You can hear the recording here
Recording by Los del Sauveterre (their own longer version)
Recording by Hantaoma (Metal Folk band)
Musical rendition while people dance the bourrée.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 06:37 PM

Vitrifolk is a fantastic resource - their stock of partitions (tunes) has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately it's sheet-music only, no ABC - and most of the tunes I looked at were notated in C, not the D or G I play in - but the sheer wealth of tunes makes up for the inconvenience.

Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:23 PM

CD 4 Center France
(Leaflet)

LA BELLE S'EN VA AU JARDIN DES AMOURS (French) La belle s'en va au jardin des amours C'est pour y passer la semaine Son père qui la cherche partout Et son amant en est en peine. Y a un berger là-bas dans la prairie Si il l'a vue qu'il nous renseigne : "Berger, berger, mon doux berger N'avez-vous pas vu la beauté même ?" "De quelle couleur était-elle habillée ? Est-elle en soie ou bien en laine ?" "Elle a un jupon blanc satiné, Une jolie robe couleur de rose." "Elle est là-bas au jardin des amours, Assise sus l' bord d'une fontaine, Elle tient un p'tit oiseau dans sa main À qui la belle raconte toutes ses peines." "Mon p'tit oiseau, tu es donc bien heureux D'être entre les mains d' ma maîtresse, Moi je suis bien son amoureux Et je ne peux pas m'approcher d'elle. Faut-il être aussi près du rosier Sans pouvoir même cueillir la rose ?" "Cueillez, cueillez, cher amant cueillez, C'en est pour vous qu' la rose est belle." "Faut-il être aussi près du ruisseau Pour endurer la soif que j'endure ?" "Buvez, buvez, cher amant buvez, C'en est pour vous qu' le ruisseau coule." Coirault : 1801 La belle au jardin d'amour. RADdO : 00006.

THE FAIR MAIDEN GOES TO THE GARDEN OF LOVE The fair maiden goes to the garden of love To spend the week there. Her father is looking for her everywhere And her lover is sorrowful. There's a shepherd in the meadow, Let him tell us if he saw her: "Shepherd, shepherd, my sweet shepherd, Didn't you see Beauty itself?" "Which was the color of her clothes? Is she wearing silk or wool?" "She has/wears a white, silken petticoat And a pretty, rose-colored dress" "She's over there, in the garden of love, Sitting on the edge of a fountain, She holds a little bird in her hand To which she (lit. the fair maiden) tells all her sorrows." "My little bird, you're very lucky (lit. happy) To be between my mistress's hands Even if I am her sweetheart, I can't go near her. Has one to be so near the rosebush Without been allowed to pick the rose?" "Pick, pick, dear lover, pick, It's for you that the rose is beautiful" "Has one to be so near the stream To endure the thirst I endure?" "Drink, drink, dear lover, drink, It's for you that the stream flows."

You can listen to the recording here
Nice two-voice rendition by Montagnards du Piméné
Version by Jacques Douai
Polyphonic recording by Balaguèra ("La votz deus anjos: Polyphonies du Béarn & des Pyrénées gasconnes")
Another polyphonic rendition by Eth d'Azu (another choir from the Gascon Pyrenees)


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:25 PM

TES MOUTONS MA BARGÈRE (French - Berrichon dialect?) "Tes moutons ma bargère Ils sont bien récartés Ils sont dedans la plaine On les voit pus aller." (bis) "Mes moutons ils marchent Au courant de l'eau Mon barger les appelle Au chant des oiseaux." "Allons donc ma bargère Allons sous ces ormeaux Nous parlerons d'amour À quelques petits mots." (bis) "Si l'amour vous presse Passez votre chemin Ou gare après vos fesses J' vas lâcher mes chiens." "Pour tes chiens ma bargère Il faut pas les lâcher Si ma parole t'y fâche Je vas m'en aller. (bis) Adieu fille ingrate Fille sans pitié Pus les amants vous flattent Moins vous les aimez." Un soir à la brune En m'y promenant Tout en fumant ma pipe Bien gaillardement. (bis) J' rencontre mon camarade Triste désolé Ne parlant plus parole Je l'ai reconsolé. "Qu'as-tu donc camarade Qu'as-tu à tant pleurer Pour l'amour d'une brune À tant t'y chagriner ? Nous irons-t-en Flandres Nous en trouverons Des brunes aussi des blondes Nous en choisirons." "Des brunes aussi des blondes Non m'y convient pas Car ma maîtresse est belle Je n' la quitterai pas. (bis) Ma maîtresse est belle Elle a des agréments Oh ! quand j' suis avec elle Le dimanche aux champs." Coirault : 4309 Ne lâche pas ton chien + 2613 En fumant ma pipe bien gaillardement. RADdO : 02684 + RADdO : 01031.

YOUR SHEEP, MY SHEPHERDESS "Your sheep, my shepherdess, Are very scattered, They are in the plain We can't see them go any more" (twice) "My sheep walk Along the stream of water. My shepherd calls them When the birds sing." "Let's go, my shepherdess, Let's go under those elm trees. We'll talk of love, Some little words" (twice) "If love is pressing you, Be on your way Or beware of your bottom, I'm going to set my dogs loose." "As for your dogs, my shepherdess, No need to set them loose. If my talking bothers you, I'm going to leave. (twice) Farewell, ungrateful girl, Pitiless girl, The more lovers flatter you, The less you love them". One evening, at dusk, I was strolling And smoking my pipe Cheerfully. (twice) I met my friend, Sad and sorry, He wouldn't say a word, I comforted him. "What's the matter with you, mate, Why do you cry so much, Why do you grieve so For a brunette's love? We will go to Flanders, We will find some Brunettes and blondes too, We will choose some. "Brunettes and blondes Don't fit me For my mistress is beautiful I won't leave her. (twice) My mistress is beautiful She has amenities Oh, when I'm with her In the fields on Sundays.

I added a question mark to "Berrichon dialect" because if you check Wiki article about it, from what we have in the song ("barger/bargère", "récartés", "reconsolé", some constructions and pronunciations) it's hard to tell whether the whole song is in Berrichon dialect or if it's just French with some regional shades which would be what we could call "nowadays Berrichon"

You can hear the recording here
Recording by La Bamboche with the title "Nous irons en Flandres".
Recording by Gabriel Yacoub
1999 live rendition by Gabriel Yacoub in Aubagne.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:26 PM

ROSSIGNOLET DES BOIS (French) "Rossignolet des bois Rossignolet sauvage, (bis) Dis-nous donc la manière Apprends-nous à parler Apprends-nous la manière Comment l'amour se fait." "Comment l'amour se fait Faut jamais rien en dire (bis) Faut jamais rien en dire Ça serait-y qu'en riant À sa jolie maîtresse Que son cœur aime tant." "La belle dans ton jardin Y a des belles pommes reinettes (bis) Voudrais-tu m'y permettre Ah ! d'y porter la main A tes belles pommes reinettes Qu'il y a dans ton jardin." "Pour toucher à mes pommes Cela m'est impossible." (bis) "La lune alle est bien haute Le soleil est bien loin Tu garderas la belle Tes pommes dans ton jardin." "Eh ! oh ! Là-bas va-t-en Grand amuseur de filles (bis) Ah ! tu as pris mon cœur-e À présent tu t'en vas En passant la rivière Galant tu périras." "Oh ! oui j'y périrai En passant la rivière ? (bis) Je suis garçon volage Garçon à marier En passant la rivière J' tâcherai bin d' m'en r'tirer."       Coirault : 122 Rossignolet du bois. RADdO : 01211.

NIGHTINGALE FROM THE WOODS, WILD NIGHTINGALE Nightingale from the woods, Wild nightingale, (twice) Tell us the manner, Teach me to speak, Teach us the way To make love." (1) "How to make love, One must never speak about it, (twice) One must never speak about it Even as a joke To one's pretty mistress That one's heart loves so much." "Beauty, in your garden There are nice russet apples (twice) Would you allow me Ah, to put a hand On the nice russet apples There are in your garden? "To touch my apples, It's impossible for me" (implied "to allow you to") (twice) The moon is very high, The sun is so far. Beauty, you will keep The apples in your garden." "Hey! Oh! Go away over there, You great entertainer of girls, (twice) Ah, you took my heart, Now you go away, When you cross the river, Lover, you'll perish." "Oh, yes, I'll perish Crossing the river? (twice) I'm a fickle boy, Marriageable boy, When I cross the river, I'll do my best to get out of it.

(1) Cf note above

You can hear the recording here
Recording by Malicorne


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:28 PM

GENS DE COURBAN QUI AVEZ DU CŒUR (French) Gens de Courban qui avez du cœur N'oubliez pas vos enfants de chœur Le bon Dieu vous le rendra Alléluia ! Si vos poules ont bien pondu Donnez un œuf, donnez-en deux Pour mettre au panier que voilà Alléluia ! Et si vous n'avez pas d'œufs Mettez un franc, mettez-en deux Dans la goillotte que voilà Alléluia ! Coirault : 9111 Alléluia. RADdO : 05532

PEOPLE FROM COURBAN WHO ARE KIND-HEARTED, People from Courban who are kind-hearted Don't forget your altar boys, The good God will repay you Hallelujah! If your hens laid well Give an egg, give two of them To put in this basket Hallelujah! And if you have no eggs, Put a franc, put two of them In this purse. Hallelujah!

You can hear the recording here at 0:45.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:31 PM

ET Y EN TOUT TEMPS LA GALETTE EST BONNE (French) Et y en tout temps la galette est bonne Et y en tout temps l'a du beurre dedans (bis) Quand n'y a point d' beurre dedans Ça s'appelle pas d' la galette Quand n'y a point d' beurre dedans Ça s'appelle du "chauboulon". RADdO : 06364.

ANY TIME, THE GALETTE IS GOOD Any time, the galette (1) is good, Any time, there's butter inside (twice) When there's no butter inside, It's not called galette, When there's no butter inside, It's called "chauboulon" (2)

(1) a galette is a round cake made of a mixture of butter, almonds powder, sugar and egg between two layers of puff pastry. If you follow the link you'll read about the galette tradition on 12th Night in France and a recipe of said galette.
(2) Chauboulon : the note on the leaflet says it's a galette not made with puff pastry and rather heavy on the stomach.

Language: same issue as in "Tes moutons ma bargère" (above)

You can hear the recording here (! it's a YouTube "shorts")
Sheet music


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:33 PM

DU BON MATIN JE M' SUIS LEVÉ (French) Du bon matin je m' suis levé, plus matin que l'aurore, (bis) C'est là que je m' suis-t-aperçu, que ma maîtresse ne m'aimait plus. J'ai mis la bride à mon cheval, oh ! oh ! j'ai mis la selle, (bis) Mon épée claire à mon côté pour y aller voir ma bien-aimée. Mais j'arrive dedans la cour, son petit cœur soupire, (bis) Qu'avez-vous donc à soupirer, la belle vous êtes enfiancée. Enfiancée oh oui je suis, malheureuse ma journée, (bis) Car c'est dimanche mes premiers bans, mettez-y donc empêchement. Voilà le dimanche qui arrive, le curé monte en chaire, (bis) Écoutez tous petits et grands, j' m'en vais vous publier les bans. Mais le galant n'étant pas loin, entendit cette annonce, (bis) Monsieur l' curé n' se pressez pas tant, je viens y mettre empêchement. Mais quel est donc cet insolent qui m'y parle de la sorte, (bis) Je ne suis pas un insolent, je suis le premier d' ses amants. Je suis le premier d' ses amants, voilà sept ans que j' l'aime, (bis) S'il y a sept ans que vous l'aimez, c'est comme de juste que vous l'aurez. Coirault : 1432 L'empêchement aux bans. RADdO : 00936.

EARLY IN THE MORNING I GOT UP Early in the morning I got up, earlier than dawn (twice) It's when I realized that my mistress loved me no more. I put the bridle to my horse, oh, oh, I put the saddle on (twice) My unsheathed sword at my side to go to see my beloved. But when I arrived in her yard, her little heart sighed (twice). "Why do you sigh, beauty, you are engaged." "Engaged, oh yes I am, my day is sorrowful (twice) For on Sunday are my first banns, hinder them." Sunday came, the priest went up to the pulpit (twice), "Listen all, children and grown ups, I'm going to call the banns." But the lover wasn't far, he heard this announcement (twice) "Father, don't haste so much, I've come to hinder them." "But who is this insolent man who speaks this way to me (twice)" "I'm not insolent, I'm the first lover of hers. "I'm the first lover of hers, I've loved her for seven years. (twice) "If you've loved her for seven years, you'll have her, it's quite fair."

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:34 PM

AU PAYS DU BERRY (French) Au pays du Berry, quand une fillette A fixé son choix, oui da, sur un épouseux (…) Et pour un sou, au son de la cornemuse On chante et on s'amuse et on rit jusqu'au jour Ha ha ha ha ha ha, ha la cornemuse Ha ha ha ha ha ha, souffle jusqu'au jour !

IN BERRY LAND In Berry land, when a young girl Set her choice, yes indeed, on a husband (…) And for a penny, to the sound of the bagpipe, We sing and we have fun and we laugh till daybreak. Ha ha ha ha ha ha, ha the bagpipe Ha ha ha ha ha ha, plays (lit. blows) till daybreak

You can listen to a much longer version here by Les Thiaulins de Lignières
Full lyrics, sheet music, midi, recordings by Lina Margy and Henri Laverne


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:36 PM

ON TE RACCOURCIRA TON PETIT COTILLON MA JEANNETTE (French) On te raccourcira ton petit cotillon ma Jeannette On te raccourcira ton petit cotillon de lin. RADdO : 06365.

THEY/WE WILL SHORTEN YOUR LITTLE PETTICOAT, MY JEANNETTE They/we will shorten your little petticoat, my Jeannette They/we will shorten your little flax petticoat.

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:37 PM

PAYEZ DONC, MAMAN, PAYEZ DONC (French) Payez donc, maman, payez donc La façon de ma camisole. Payez donc, maman, payez donc La façon de mon cotillon. J'ai payé, maman, j'ai payé La façon de ma camisole. J'ai payé, maman, j'ai payé La façon de mon tablier. RADdO : 00083.

DO PAY, MOMMY, DO PAY Do pay, mommy, do pay The making of my camisole, Do pay, mommy, do pay The making of my petticoat. I paid, mommy, I paid, The making of my camisole, I paid, mommy, I paid The making of my apron.

For those who know French and want to dance to this song, here are the steps (at the top)


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:40 PM

HABITANTS DE TOUT ÂGE (French) Habitants de tout âge À l'heure du repos, En attendant l'ouvrage, Écoutez quelques mots ! Un brave militaire Revenait de la guerre, Rêveur de ses bonheurs. Ce soldat doux et sage Rentrait dans son village D'avec la Croix d'Honneur Avec la Croix d'Honneur. Allant-t-à la fontaine La femme du Perrier, Elle reconnut son frère Cet aimable guerrier. "Eh bien l' bonjour cher frère, Voilà notre chaumière, Venez voir mon époux ! Perrier, la bonté même, Autant que moi vous aime !" "Je voudrais m'en aller ! (bis) Frère et sœur, le temps me presse Embrassons-nous bonsoir ! Demain-z-avant la messe, Tous deux venez me voir ! Nous ferons-z-une fête, Elle sera parfaite En souhaitant les beaux jours ! Ce sont mes pères-z-et mères Qui sont-t-encore sur terre Je les aime toujours. (bis) Je veux voir si ma mère, Sous l'habit militaire, Reconnaîtrait son fils ! Lui parlant de l'Italie Mon cher-e père Elise N'en sera pas surpris ! " (bis) "Bonsoir, madame l'hôtesse, Pourriez-vous me loger ?" "Mon ami je suis triste, Je n'ai rien à manger !" "Que rien ne vous chagrine, Du pain-z-une chopine, C'est suffisant pour moi ! De sur une paillasse, Daignez m'y faire place, Car il fait déjà froid ! (bis) La chambre est ténébreuse, Le soldat dort bientôt. L'hôtesse, assez curieuse, Visita le ballot. Oh ! sans croire mais sans-z-honte Oh ! cette dame y compte Dix huit cent pièces d'or. (bis) "Mon mari oh quelle somme, Pour nous c'est un trésor ! Assassinons cet homme, Nous aurons tout son or !" Descendent dans la cave Afin d'y faire un trou. "Moi, j' vais trouver ce brave Pour lui couper le cou !" Le soldat plein de vie Sous la femme en furie Fut bientôt massacré. Et elle s'en va le mettre Oh sans le reconnaître Dans le trou préparé. (bis) Le lendemain dès l'aurore L'estimable Perrier, Ainsi que Léonore Viennent pour voir le guerrier. "Eh bien l' bonjour chère mère Parlons d' ce militaire Que vous avez logé !" "Il est sur la grande route, Déjà bien loin sans doute Qui retourne au congé." (bis) "Ma mère, c'est une fable Que vous m' contez ici ! Ce soldat estimable N'est point sorti d'ici ! Réveillez-le de grâce, Afin que je l'embrasse, Je l'aime tendrement !" "Le r'connais-tu ma chère ?" "Oui maman c'est mon frère, Qui r'vient du régiment." (bis) "Hélas ! Je sens mon crime Qui m'entraîne à la mort ! Mon fils est ma victime, Grands dieux, quel triste sort ! Hier soir après la brume, Pour avoir sa fortune, J'ai pris mon grand couteau. Oh de ç-t-enfant aimable Moi la mère abominable, J'en deviens le bourreau !" (bis) Coirault : 9614 Le fils soldat assassiné par ses parents IV. RADdO : 05292.

PEOPLE OF ALL AGES People of all ages, At rest time, While waiting for work, Hear some words! A good military man Going back from war, Dreaming of his happiness. This sweet and nice soldier Was going back to his village, With the Cross of Honor With the Cross of Honor. A-going to the fountain Perrier's wife Recognized her brother, This lovable warrior. "Greetings, dear brother, Here is our cottage, Come and see my husband, Perrier, goodness itself, Loves you as much as I do!" "I'd like to leave! (twice) Brother and sister, I'm in a hurry, Let's kiss goodbye! (lit. good evening) Tomorrow before mass, You two come to see me! We'll have a party/celebration, It will be perfect Greeting the nice days My father and mother Still on earth, I still love them. (twice) I want to check if my mother Would recognize her son In his army clothes! As I'll talk about Italy My dear father Élise (2) Won't be surprised (twice) "Good evening, hostess, Could you accommodate me?" "My friend, I'm sad, I have nothing to eat !" "Don't worry, Some bread and a glass (of wine or anything else) It's enough for me! On a straw mattress Deign to make me some place For it's already cold!" (twice) The bedroom was dark The soldier was soon asleep. The hostess rather curious Searched the bundle. Oh, without believing it but shameless, Oh, this lady counted Eighteen hundred gold coins in it. (twice) "Husband, oh! What an amount, For us it's a treasure! Let's murder this man, We'll have all his gold!" They went down in the cellar To dig a hole in there. "I'm going to see this brave, To cut his neck/throat!" (twice) The full of life soldier Was soon slaughtered Under(2) the furious woman And she goes to put him Oh, without knowing him In the prepared hole. (twice) On the next day, at dawn, The worthy Perrier And Léonore too Go to see the warrior. "Good day to you, dear mother, Let's talk about this military man You accommodated!" "He's on the highway, Probably already far away, Going back to his leave (3). (twice) "Mother, it's a tale You're telling me now! This worthy soldier Didn't go out from here! Please wake him up So that I kiss him I love him tenderly!" "Did you know him, my dear?" "Yes, mommy, it's my brother Who comes back from the army." (twice) "Alas! I feel my crime Dragging me to death! My son is my victim, Great gods, what a sad fate! Yesterday night after dusk To get his wealth I took my big knife. Oh, of this lovely child, I, his abominable mother, Have been the executioner. (twice)

(1) The sister's name is Léonore so this "Élise" looks weird since it's supposed to be the father's name while Élise is a woman's name. Unless… the final "e" following a vowel could be pronounced in songs–and it still happens nowadays- so "Italie" was pronounced "itali-e" and would thus rhyme with "Élie" (Elijah) pronounced "éli-e", then Élise would come from a mishearing.
(2) meaning that she was on top of him when she murdered him.
(3) I suppose she meant that she thought he was on leave and had stopped there on his way home since "au" means "to (the)", not "from".

You can listen to a recording of this song here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 02:43 PM

LES VOULEZ-VOUS CONNAÎTRE, LES ENFANTS SANS SOUCIS (French) Les voulez-vous connaître, les enfants sans soucis ? Il faut les aller prendre un dimanche matin. Il faut les aller prendre un dimanche matin Sortant de la grand'messe : "Compagnon d'où viens-tu ?" Sortant de la grand'messe : "Compagnon d'où viens-tu ?" Je viens de la taverne, mon argent répandu Je viens de la taverne, mon argent répandu. Si tu voulus me croire, ton argent t'aurais eu Si tu voulus me croire, ton argent t'aurais eu Tu aurais bu de l'aigre et laissé ce bon vin. Tu aurais bu de l'aigre et laissé ce bon vin J'aurais vendu ma robe et mon pourpoint de satin J'aurais vendu ma robe et mon pourpoint de satin Rossignolet sauvage, rossignolet joli Rossignolet sauvage, rossignolet joli Va t'en dire à ma mie qu'elle n'aura plus d'ami Va t'en dire à ma mie qu'elle n'aura plus d'ami Qu'il est parti en guerre, c'est pour le roi servir Qu'il est parti en guerre, c'est pour le roi servir Servir le roi, la reine, et sa patrie aussi Servir le roi, la reine, et sa patrie aussi Rossignolet sauvage, rossignolet joli Rossignolet sauvage, rossignolet joli Va t'en chercher mon fifre et mon tambour joli Va t'en chercher mon fifre et mon tambour joli Pour donner des aubades aux enfants sans soucis Pour donner des aubades aux enfants sans soucis Qui sont dans la taverne, qui mangent du rôti. Coirault : 1517 Qu'on m'apporte ma flûte. RADdO : 02302.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE CAREFREE CHILDREN? Do you want to know the carefree children? You need to go and catch them on a Sunday morning. You need to go and catch them on a Sunday morning, Going out from high mass "Mate, where do you come from?" Going out from high mass "Mate, where do you come from?" "I'm coming from the tavern with my money wasted (lit. spread) I'm coming from the tavern with my money wasted" "If you had wanted to believe me, you'd have had your money If you had wanted to believe me, you'd have had your money You'd have drunk sour wine and left this good one. You'd have drunk sour wine and left this good one. I'd have sold my gown(1) and my velvet doublet I'd have sold my gown and my velvet doublet Wild nightingale, pretty nightingale Wild nightingale, pretty nightingale Go to tell my beloved that she'll have no sweetheart any more Go to tell my beloved that she'll have no sweetheart any more, That he went to war to serve the king That he went to war to serve the king To serve the king, the queen and his fatherland too. To serve the king, the queen and his fatherland too. Wild nightingale, pretty nightingale Wild nightingale, pretty nightingale Go to fetch my fife and my nice (lit. pretty) drum Go to fetch my fife and my nice drum To serenade at dawn the carefree children To serenade at dawn the carefree children Who are in the tavern, who are eating roast.

(1)"robe" is usually a woman's dress or a judge or lawyer's gown or a priest's robe.

You can listen to the recording here
Rendition by Tartine de clous

END OF CD 4


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 06:54 AM

CD 5 SOUTH-WEST (Leaflet)

You can listen to the whole CD here. You'll listen to music-only pieces that aren't listed below.

DE PARIS DANS PARIS (French) De Paris dans Paris, Sur la place publique, (bis) Il vient à passer le Grand Chasseur du Roi ; Rencontre une bergère qui tremblait de froid. (bis) "Bergère, si vous avez froid, Je vous donne ma couverture. (bis) Et mon manteau gris et ma capote aussi, Mon joli cœur en gage s'il vous fait plaisir." (bis) "De votre joli cœur, Je vous en remercie (bis) Car je l'ai promis à mon mignon berger, Au son de la musette il me fera danser." (bis) "De ton mignon berger, N'en fais pas tant la fière ! (bis) Il s'est engagé au service du roi ; J'en suis son capitaine depuis hier au soir." (bis) "De s'être engagé Cela n'est pas possible (bis) Je le vois venir ce joli cœur d'amour, Descendre la colline et me dire bonjour." (bis) Coirault : 3806 La couverture. RADdO : 00035.

FROM PARIS INSIDE PARIS From Paris inside Paris,(1) On the public square, (twice) The King's Great Hunter happened to pass by Met a shepherdess shivering from the cold. (twice) "Shepherdess, if you're cold, I give you my blanket. (twice) And my gray coat and my capote too, My pretty heart as a pledge if you please". (twice) "I thank you For your pretty heart, (twice) For I promissed it to my cute shepherd, To the sound of the pipe he will make me dance" (twice) "Don't boast so much About your (2) cute shepherd! (twice) He joined the king's service, I've been his captain since yesterday evening." (twice) "That he got enlisted Is not possible (twice) I see this pretty heart of love Go down the hill and greet me."

(1) It doesn't make much sense in either language!
(2) It doesn't show in the English since there's only one "you", but you'll notice that he first addresses her as "vous" (formal you) and as soon as she tells him that she doesn't want his heart as a pledge because she's engaged to someone else, he switches to "ton mignon berger" (informal your cute shepherd). No need to be polite with a mere shepherdess who won't yield to your nice offer…

You can hear the recording here
You'll find here another version titled "À l'ombrage d'un buisson" (Under the Shade of a Bush). There's a Piemontese version sung by Giordano Dall'Armellina but I can't find a recording online.


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 06:56 AM

I A PAS DE FEMNAS PUS ALURADAS (Occitan -Lengadocian dialect) I a pas de femnas pus aluradas Que las femnas de pel puèg Que las femnas de pel puèg E to la la La dera deròt E to la la Se n'anavan per las velhadas Daissavan lor marí al lièt… E onze oras sonavan Mièja nuèt un pauc plan prèp… Lor marí lor demandava : "Pauras femnas d'ont venètz ?..." "Venèm d'aval de per la ribèira De virar l'aiga de pel prat… E se ba nos volètz pas crèire Agachatz nos lo freta-pès… Tres o quatre jorns aprèssa Tòmban malaudas al lièt… Calrà anar cercar lo vicari Lo medecin per las garir… Quand lo medecin arriba : "Pauras femnas encentas sètz !" Quand lo vicari arriba : "Paures òmes cocuts sètz !" Coirault : à rapprocher de 5908 Les femmes qui ont pris froid aux pieds I RADdO : 02921.

THERE ARE NO SHARPER WOMEN… There are no sharper women Than the mountain women, Than the mountain women. And too la la La dera dirette And too la la They would go away during the evening gatherings, Leaving their husbands in bed… And eleven would strike And almost midnight… Their husbands would ask, "Poor women, where do you come from?" "We come from over there, from the riverside, To divert the water of the meadow… And if you don't want to believe us, Look at the (door) mat…" Three or four days later They lie sick in bed… The vicar must be sent for And the doctor too to heal them… When the doctor arrives, "Poor women, you're pregnant!" When the vicar arrives, "Poor men, you're cuckolds!"

You can listen to the recording here
Live rendition by Samaïa (Female band = Eléonore Fourniau - Noémie Nael - Luna Silva)


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 06:57 AM

ME PROMENANT LE LONG D'UN BOIS CHARMANT (French) Me promenant le long d'un bois charmant J'ai rencontré trois garçons mariniers Trois mariniers venant de Normandie Tous les trois m'ont prié d' rentrer dans leur navire. Dans leur navire ne fûmes pas rentrés Que le vent du nord se mit à souffler Souffler, souffler d'une telle tourmente Qu'il nous a transportés de sur la mer flottante. Sur la mer flottante sept ans je suis resté Sans aller revoir la terre pour y aborder En m'écriant : "Ma mère ma douce mère !" Sans jamais oublier le château de mon père. Que me diront les gens de mon pays D'avoir passé sept ans sans revenir ? Je leur dirai que j'étais à l'ombrage Là-bas, là-bas sous un tendre feuillage. Que me diront les gens de mon quartier D'avoir passé sept ans sans rien gagner ? Je leur dirai que j'étais dans les îles Que je faisais la cour à d'autres belles filles. Fillettes qui êtes à marier Ne prenez pas un garçon marinier. Les mariniers sont des trompeurs de filles Plus de cent mille fois je m'en suis repentie. Coirault : 1314 Le charmant matelot qui revenait des îles RADdO : 00677.

A-STROLLING ALONG A NICE WOOD "A-strolling along a nice/charming wood I met three sailors, Three sailors coming from Normandy All three asked/prayed me to go into their ship. We hardly were into their ship When the North wind started to blow To blow, to blow such a storm That it brought us on the floating sea. I stayed on the floating sea Without going back to see my homeland to accost Saying 'Mother, my sweet mother!' Without ever forgetting my father's castle. What will the people from my homeland say to me, For having spent seven years without being back? I'll tell them that I was in the shadow, Over there, over there under a tender folliage. What will the people from my neighborhood say to me, For having spent seven years without earning anything? I'll tell them I was in the islands (1) That I was courting some beautiful girls." "Marrigeable girls, Don't take a sailor. Sailors are girls deceivers, More than a hundred thousand times I regretted that I did."

(1) "dans les îles" (in the islands) means some exotic, warm and very distant islands such as the Caribbean or Polynesia islands

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:02 AM

These are the lyrics to the track #5 of which you can only hear an accordeon rendition

L'AIGA DE RÒCHA (Occitan) L'aiga de ròcha te farà morir, pecaire L'aiga de ròcha te farà morir. Te'n cal mesfisar d'aquela aiga, pecaire, Te'n cal mesfisar, beu un gòt/còp de bon vin. S'una filheta se vòl maridar, pecaire S'una filheta se vòl maridar, Li'n cal pas donar d'aquela aiga, pecaire, Aimarà melhor beure un gòt/còp de bon vin.

SPRING WATER Spring water (1) will make you die, poor dear,(2) Spring water will make you die, You must mistrust this water, poor dear, You must mistrust it, drink a glass of good wine (3) If a young girl wants to get married, poor dear, If a young girl wants to get married, She mustn't be given of this water, poor dear, she'll better drink a glass of good wine.

(1) "Aiga de ròcha" literally translate as "water from rock"; "ròcha" may be pronounced "roh-choh" or "roh-tsoh" depending on the dialect. More Southwards it's "aiga de ròca", the Latin "ca" wasn't palatalized in Southern dialects and maybe that could explain that the "roh-tsoh" pronunciation could to be understood by some people as "aiga de ròsa" (roh-zoh) = rose water.
(2) This word literally translates as "sinner" and if you ever visit Southern France you'll hear it said in its original form (pecaire) or its Frenchified form (peuchère); "poor dear" or "poor thing" are the best English equivalent I could think of. As an exclamation, it conveys the same shade of misfortune as in "woe is…"
(3) Some variants have the two last lines as "Te farà morir, aquela aiga, aquela aiga / Te farà morir aquela aiga de vin" (This water, this water will make you die / this water of wine (???) will make you die)

You can hear a nice hurdy-gurdy rendition (once he's tuned it!) on YouTube and on the YouTube page you can skip to a melodeon rendition ("Scottiche l'eau de roche") and from there to a rendition both played and sung by four ladies

You can listen to the recording here
A live rendition by L'Escabòt (1st song) - "L'Escabòt" ("Little herd") is an Italian choir/band from the Occitan valleys of Italy.
Nice live rendition here as "L'aiga de ròsa" (Explanation above)


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:04 AM

LA CALHE DE LA CALHE (Occitan -Lengadocian dialect) "La calhe de la calhe Ont as tu lo niu ?" (bis) "Sul truc de La Bastida Del puèg de Montbresson." (bis) "Mès digas-me tu la calhe De qué I a dedins ?" (bis) "Dels uòus coma los autres Un briat pus polits !" (bis) Coirault : 10506 La caille et son nid RADdO : 04905.

QUAIL OF THE QUAIL "Quail of the quail (1) Where is your nest?" (twice) "On the La Bastide butt, On Montbresson hill" (2) (twice) "But tell me, quail, What is in there?" (twice) "Eggs like any other eggs, A little prettier!" (twice)

(1) lit. "the quail of the quail". It doesn't make sense but once you know that the main version of this song goes "Oh calha, bèla calha… (oh, quail, beautiful quail) it explains lots. -sheet music and YouTube videos on the page.
(2) For "La Bastida", see Wiki (the Fr. article is much longer with many more photos). Montbresson means "Bush Mount"

You can hear the recording here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:05 AM

Nursery/children's rhyme

"COCUT ! ENT AS JAGUT ?" (Occitan -Lengadocian dialect) "Cocut ! Ent as jagut ?" "Al Mont Agut !" "Que i as fach ?" "Un ostal traucat !" "Qual t'a adujat a lo far ?" "Monsur Bernat !" "De que li as donat ?" "Un uòu coat !" "De que n'as fach ?" "L'ai vendut !" "Quant n'as fach ?" "Cent escuts !" RADdO : 06366.

"CUCKOO! WHERE DID YOU SLEEP?" "Cuckoo! Where did you sleep?" "At Montagut!" (1) "What did you make there?" "A pierced house!" "Who helped you to make it?" "Mister Bernat" "What did you give him?" "A hatched egg! "What did you do with it?" "I sold it!" "How much did you sell it for?" "A hundred crowns!"

(1) lit.: "on the peaked mount"
I don't know if we must look for a pun between the cuckoo building a house with a hole in it with the help of someone else and the fact that "cocut" in Occitan means cuckoo AND cuckold.

You can hear the recording here or here

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:07 AM

LO COCUT ES MÒRT (Occitan -Lengadocian dialect) Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt a Paris I an tampat lo cuol Amb un grut de ris. Repic As pas entendut Cantar la cigala As pas entendut Cantar lo cocut Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt en Espanha. I an tampat lo cuol Amb una castanha. Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt a Tolon. I an tampat lo cuol Amb un gròs bochon. Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt a Marselha I an tampat lo cuol Amb una botelha. Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt a Narbona I an tampat lo cuol Amb una bombona. Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt en Africa I an tampat lo cuol Amb una barrica. Coirault : 10438 Le coucou est mort RADdO : 04925

THE CUCKOO IS DEAD/DIED The cuckoo is dead/died (1) It died in Paris, They blocked his ass With a grain of rice. Chorus Didn't you hear The cicada sing? Didn't you hear The cuckoo sing? The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Spain They blocked his ass With a chestnut. The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Toulon They blocked his ass With a big cork. The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Marseilles They blocked his ass With a bottle. The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Narbonne They blocked his ass With a demijohn. The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Africa They blocked his ass With a cask.

(1) In Occitan as in French and Italian, some verbs are conjugated with the auxiliary "to be" instead of "to have" in compound tenses. The language doesn't differenciate the action from the result, e.g in English when you have died (action, vb "to die" in present perfect), you're dead (result, to be + predicative adj.), in Oc and Fr. the conjugation of "to die" in present perfect literally translates as "he is dead", you can't "have died" and "be dead", there's only one form.

We have a lightly different version of this song on Mama Lisa's World.
Usually, when the verse has the cuckoo dying in England they don't close the tomb with a little earth, they just stop his ass with it as in the present version.
There's also a verse going

"Lo cocut es mòrt Es mòrt en Italia I/li an tampat lo cuol Amb un flòc de palha"

The cuckoo is dead/died, It died in Italy They blocked his ass With a tuft of straw.

You can listen to a version of this song sung by Maria Roanet
You can hear the recording here or here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:08 AM

MON PÈRE A DES BLANCS MOUTONS (French) Mon père a des blancs moutons Moi j'en suis la bergère. Moi j'en suis la bergère dondaine dondaine dondon Moi j'en suis la bergère don dondaine dondaine dondon La première fois que je les ai gardés Le loup m'en a pris quinze. Un cavalier vient à passer Me ramena les quinze. Quand nous tondrons nos blancs moutons Nous partagerons la laine. "De la laine je n'en veux pas Je veux votre cœur en gage*." "Mon cœur en gage vous ne l'aurez pas Sans savoir qui vous êtes." Coirault : 4002 La bergère aux cinq cents moutons RADdO : 01823.

MY FATHER HAS WHITE SHEEP My father has white sheep I am their shepherdess I am their shepherdess dondaine dondaine dondon I am their shepherdess don dondaine dondaine dondon The first time I watched them The wolf took fifteen of them. A horseman happened to pass by He brought back the fifteen of them When we fleace our white sheep We'll share the wool. "I don't wan't wool, I want your virginity (1)" "You won't have my virginity Without knowing who you are" (2)

*(1) "cœur en gage" (lit. heart as a pledge) was an euphemism for "pucelage" = virginity
(2) In other versions she's promissed it to some Pierre or it's "in wedding" (engaged). Other versions have the horseman as the king's son. There's usually another verse after the 3rd adding to the consistency of the song and that goes

- La Belle, que m'y donnerez-vous, Oh ! pour ma récompense ?

"Beauty, what will you give me Oh! as a reward?"

You can hear the recording here
You can listen to a version to this song here. (It's more or less the same tune my mother used to sing)
Here it's sung on a different tune
Here it's sung to a very different tune and was collected in Western France.
Lyrics, sheet music, midi and recordings

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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:09 AM

DIJAUS GRAS QU'A NAU MOTONS (Occitan -Gascon dialect) Dijaus gras qu'a nau motons E tots son bèths e tots son gras Atau dançan, dançan, dançan E tots son bèths e tots son gras Atau dançan dijaus gras. Dijaus gras qu'a ueit motons… Coirault : 101B23 Les neuf porcs du Mardi gras RADdO : 05629.

FAT THURSDAY HAS NINE SHEEP Fat Thursday has nine sheep All are fine and all are fat Thus they dance, they dance, they dance, All are fine and all are fat Thus they dances on Fat Thursday. Fat Thursday has eight sheep…

This is a "cançon/canta/cant de nau/nòu" ("song of nine") i.e. a song that starts with 9 things on the first verse, then 8 on the second etc. down to one or none. "La nòvia", a wedding song you can find in this Mudcat thread is also a "cant de nau".

You can listen to the recording here


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Subject: RE: The French 'Voice of the People' set
From: Monique
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:10 AM

QUI T'A CARGAT LA GALA, TORRIN? (Occitan -Gascon dialect) Qui t'a cargat la gala, Torrin? Qui t'a cargat la gala ? I-ala-te-la, i-ala-te-la Son las goiatas de Sent Sever

WHO PASSED THE SCABIES ON TO YOU, TOURRIN? Who passed the scabies on to you, Tourrin (1) Who passed the scabies on to you? Take it away, take it away, It was the girls from Saint-Sever

(1) The "tourrin" (here the guy's nickname) is a soup that people would traditionally bring to the newlywed. There's a Gascon wedding song called "Lo torrin" that you'll find on Mama Lisa's Blog along with an English translation, a recording, a link to the song page with sheet music and all, the description of the wedding custom and a link to the soup recipe.

You can hear the recording here

The song is mostly found as "Qui t'a cargat la gala, Margòt?"


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