The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #169209   Message #4164619
Posted By: Monique
06-Feb-23 - 02:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Mudcat singaround songs NOT in English
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mudcat singaround songs NOT in English
From the extract in English by Robert Paquin in Le testament du garçon empoisonné, un Lord Randal français en Acadie -the whole article is in French but there's an extract in English at the bottom of the document. Here is part of it...
"Versions of a French ballad collected on the east coast of Canada (Acadie) are compared to Child No. 12, Lord Randal. The French ballad, "Le testament du garçon empoisonné" is shown to be a popular translation resulting from the folk cultural exchanges that occurred in Canada, either in lumber camps or among mixed (i.e. French-English) families. This French ballad has no ancestor in France, but a French Lord Randal does exist among the displaced "Cajuns" of Louisiana. While it is impossible to identify a unique source for the French Testament, the Louisiana version seems to be the work of a literate craftsman whose source can be clearly traced to Child D version, first published in Scott’s Minstrelsy."
HONORÉ, MON ENFANT (French)

Où qu' t'as été hier au soir, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
J'ai été voir les filles, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Mais où sont tes deux chiens, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Sont morts après souper, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Mais qu'as-tu donc mangé, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Un p' tit poisson salé, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Que laisseras-tu à ton père, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Ma terre et ma maison, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Que laisseras-tu à ta mère, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Mes habits, mon trousseau, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Que laisseras-tu à ton frère, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Ma selle et mon cheval, ma montre et mes souliers.
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Que laisseras-tu à ta sœur, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Mon violon, mon archet, Maman faisez mon lit
Car j'ai grand mal au cœur, je veux aller me coucher.

Que laisseras-tu à ta belle, Honoré, mon enfant ? (x2)
Je lui laisserai la mer pour aller s'y noyer !
Elle l'a bien mérité : c'est elle qui m'a empoisonné !
HONORÉ MY CHILD

Where did you go yesterday evening, Honoré, my child? (x2)
I went to see the girls*, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

Where on earth are your two dogs, Honoré, my child? (x2)
They died after supper, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What on earth did you eat, Honoré, my child? (x2)
A small, salted fish, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What will you leave to your father, Honoré, my child? (x2)
My land and my house, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What will you leave to your mother, Honoré, my child? (x2)
My clothes, my outfit, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What will you leave to your brother, Honoré, my child? (x2)
My saddle and my horse, my watch and my shoes.
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What will you leave to your sister, Honoré, my child? (x2)
My violin, my (violin) bow, Mother, make my bed
For my heart is very sick, I want to go and lie down.

What will you leave to your sweetheart, Honoré, my child? (x2)
I'll leave her the sea for her to drown in it!
She's well deserved it, she's the one who poisoned me!
* "aller voir les filles" literally "to go to see the girls" usually means "to go pay a visit to the prostitutes"

Recording by Robert le Diable, a band from Normandy.
A cappella recording by Gabriel Yacoub at 19:20

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