Traditional song from Western France
This song is usually sung by two persons or one person and a group. "A" sings the first two lines (that is the first line sung twice), "B" repeats them, then "A" sings the next two lines, "B" repeats them, "A" sings the chorus, "B" repeats. The whole process makes the song twice as long.

QUAND L'HERBE EST VERTE (French) Chez mon père, nous étions trois filles (bis) Toutes les trois, on nous marie Quand l'herbe est verte Refrain: Quand l'herbe est verte Le bois bourgeonne Quand l'herbe est verte Toutes les trois, on nous marie Avec trois tailleurs de vignes Quand l'herbe est verte Avec trois tailleurs de vignes Le plus jeune a la plus jolie Quand l'herbe est verte Le plus jeune a la plus jolie Tous les jours ses frères ils lui disent Quand l'herbe est verte Tous les jours ses frères ils lui disent Frère, faut changer de bonne amie Quand l'herbe est verte Frère, faut changer de bonne amie Nous ti donnerons des bois, des vignes Quand l'herbe est verte Nous ti donnerons des bois, des vignes Gardez vos bois, gardez vos vignes Quand l'herbe est verte Gardez vos bois, gardez vos vignes Moi, je garde ma bonne amie. Quand l'herbe est verte

WHEN THE GRASS IS GREEN At my father's, we were three girls (x2) All three of us were married off When the grass is green Chorus: When the grass is green The wood is budding When the grass is green All three of us were married off To three winegrowers When the grass is green To three winegrowers The youngest has the prettiest one When the grass is green The youngest has the prettiest one Every day his brothers tell him When the grass is green Every day his brothers tell him Brother, we must change our true love/sweetheart When the grass is green Brother, we must change our true love/sweetheart We'll give you woods and vineyards When the grass is green We'll give you woods and vineyards Keep your woods, keep your vineyards When the grass is green Keep your woods, keep your vineyards I keep my true love/sweetheart. When the grass is green

You can hear the first verse of it here
The chorus is also used in a different song.

Back to Index