Children's songs in french about the sea

Subject: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: GUEST,DPF
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 02:52 PM

I'm looking for a song in French for a children's choir (ostensibly from Cape Breton, mid to late 19th century) to sing. Ideally, I'd like it to have have Gaspe or Cape Breton connections. Unfortunately, anything I have ends up inappropriate. Anyone have any suggestions for resources?

Thanks,

Dan

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 05:35 PM

I know one children's song, in French which has to do with the sea.

Il était un petit navire, Il était un petit navire,
Qui n'avais ja- ja- jamais naviguée,
Qui n'avais ja- ja- jamais naviguée
Ohé, ohé...

Les matelots (pom pom, pom pom)
De la belle Euqenie (pom pom, pom pom)
La pavoisait en de belle couleurs.
Timoniers et gabiers, faisant-nous adieux a la terre
Et gaiment, et gaiment,
Poussons- nous de l'agrement.
De l'agrement - poussons-nous-en.

If it's of any interest, I can provide a tune and chords.

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: GUEST,DPF
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 02:36 PM

Will,
    That would be wonderful.

Thanks,

Dan

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: Monique
Date: 23 Aug 10 - 03:33 PM

I'd say that "Il était un petit navire" and "Les matelots de la Belle Eugénie" are two different songs. The lyrics I know to "Les matelots de la Belle Eugénie" are somewhat different from Will's version, it's a drinking song and it goes:

Les matelots, (bis)
De la Belle Eugénie (bis)
Ont pavoisé (bis)
Aux brillantes couleurs (bis)
Et leur vaisseau (bis)
Revenant d'Italie (bis)
Était chargé de macaronis.
Si la piquette est bonne
Amis buvons un coup
Car le jus de la treille
Égaye nos amours
Si la piquette est bonne
Amis, buvons un coup
Car le jus de la treille
Égaye nos amours.

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 04:11 AM

Will, you're obviously referring to the version of "Il était un petit navire" collected by Peter Kennedy in the (British) Channel Islands which conflates the 2 songs. Curiously it's quite effective.

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: Willa
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:19 AM

Couple of links here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0JRm_yw408

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_%C3%A9tait_un_petit_navire

The you tube version (without the 'Ohe ohe matelot' bit) is the closest to what I learnt at school.

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 11:06 AM

Il était un pe-pe-petit navire
Il était un pe-pe-petit navire
Qui n'avait ja-, ja-, jamais navigué
Qui n'avait ja-, ja-, jamais navigué
Ah oui, ah oui, ah oui

Chorus:

Si la piquette est bonne et en y buvant toujours
C'est le jus d'la treille réveillant nos amours
Les matelots (pom pom, pom pom)d'la bell' Euqénie (pom pom)
Sont embrassés, sont embrassés :
Nos riches couleurs.
Timonier, timonier, poussons- nous carrément de la terre
Carrément, déliément, poussons- nous de l'agrément.
Pouss-e-sons-nous, glac-glac, glac-glac
Poussons-nous de l'agrément

(Collected by Peter Kennedy on Guernsey, c. 1957.)

Subject: RE: Children's songs in french about the sea
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Sep 12 - 03:31 PM

I can remember a little more from schooldays.

Il etait un petit navire
Il etait un petit navire
Il n'a ja ja jamais navigue
Il n'a ja ja jamais navigue
Ohe ohe
Ohe ohe matelots
Matelots navige sur les flots
Ohe ohe matelots
Matelots navige sur les flots.