Oh well, here goes double spaced (does anyone know how to force a line ending, other than by double spacing?)


AU CLAIRE DE LA LUNE

Very slightly modified (mainly spelling) from Rise Up Singing - page 83

G GD GD G / / Am - A D / 1st

Or: easier to play and sing:

D A DA D / / Em - E A / 1st


French: Charles Fonteyn Manney & J.B.Lully

"Au claire de la lune, mon ami Pierrot
Prete-moi ta plume pour ecrire un mot
Ma chandelle est morte, je n'ai plus de feu
Ouvre-moi ta porte pour 1'amour de Dieu."
   Au claire de la lune Pierrot repondit
   "Je n'ai pas de plume, je suis dans mon lit
   Va chez la voisine, je crois qu'elle y est
   Car dans sa cuisine on bat le briquet."

Au claire de la lune s'en fut Arlequin
Frapper chez la brune, elle repond soudain
"Qui frappe de la sorte?" Il dit a son tour
"Ouvrez votre porte, pour le dieu d'amour!"
   Au claire de la lune on n'y voit qu'un peu
   On chercha la plume, on chercha du feu
   En cherchant d'la sorte je n'sais c'qu'on trouva
   Mais je sais qu'la porte sur eux se ferma!

English translation #1: Anonymous

"At thy door I'm knocking, by the pale moonlight
Lend a pen, I pray thee, I've a word to write
Guttered is my candle, my fire burns no more
For the love of heaven, open up the door!"
   Pierrot cried in answer by the pale moonlight
   "In my bed I'm lying, late & chill at night
   Yonder at my neighbour's, someone is astir
   Fire is freshly kindled, get a light from her."

To the neighbour's house then, by the pale moonlight
Goes our gentle Lubin to beg a pen to write
"Who knocks there so softly?" calls a voice above
"Open wide your door now for the God of Love!"
   Seek they pen and candle by the pale moonlight
   They can see so little since dark is now the night
   What they find while seeking, that is not revealed
   All behind her door is carefully concealed!

English Translation #2: Dorothy H. Patterson, @1988

"Underneath the moonlight, Pete my dearest friend
Help me out this once, pal. Won't you lend your pen?
My electric's out and so I have no light
For the love of God, Pete, open up tonight!"
   Underneath the moonlight, Peter he replied,
   "I ain't got no pen, Harl, I'm in bed - Good night!
   Go bother my neighbour, I 'm sure that she's there
   Warming up her wood stove, by the kitchen stair."

Underneath the moonlight, Harlequin stayed out
Knocked at the brunette's house, then he heard her shout
"Who is out there knocking?" "'Me," said Harlequin
"For the God of love, dear, please let me come in."
   Underneath the moonlight, one can just discern
   Someone hunting pens, someone a light to burn
   Looking for these things, I don't know what they'll find
   But I know the door closed. And then? Never mind!!!