There are different versions of this song. Cf this Mudcat thread

LE PETIT MERCELOT (French) C'était un petit mercelot Lon lon la que dit-on de l'amour ? C'était un petit mercelot Roulant sa marchandise S'en est allé dedans un bourg Où il y avait 3 filles En voilà une, en voilà deux Voilà la plus jolie Il la plia, il la replia La mit dans sa valise Il ne fut pas dedans le bois, Que trois garçons le suivent. "Arrête, arrêt', p'tit mercelot, C'est une de nos filles ! Tu la rendras, p'tit mercelot, Ou tu perdras la vie. -Tant que j'aurai mon sabre en main, Je défendrai ma mie."

THE YOUNG HABERDASHER There was a young haberdasher Lon lon la, what do people say about love? There was a young haberdasher Rolling (?) his goods. He went into a town Where there were 3 girls Here is one, here are two Here is the prettiest. He folded her, folded her up, Put her in his bag (suitcase) He hadn't reached the inner wood When three boys followed him "Stop, stop, young haberdasher She's one of our girls You'll give her back, young haberdasher Or you'll lose your life." As long as I'll have my saber in hand I'll defend my beloved."

Recording from Anthologie de la chanson française

Recording by La Bamboche (different tune)

Recording by Gabriel Yacoub (another different tune)

Sheet music
You can also find a sheet music in Chansons populaires, recueillies dans les Alpes françaises by Julien Tiersot. It's another version of it called "Le petit marchand"
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