Lyr Req: Sur le Pont d'Avignon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 03:17 PM

As sure as I`m sitting here looking at my third winning lottery jackpot ticket, its quite true!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 03:06 PM

Mousethief back in '00 posted the generally accepted lyrics; the title with "Sur" is the common one, but not historically true, as pointed out in posts above. Doubtful that anyone danced either on or below this very narrow bridge- perhaps nearby. The story of the flood washing dancers away has the same credibility as the tale of Noah and the ark.

Some singers do say 'sous' and it is quite acceptable. After all, this is a traditional song.
"L'on y danse" perhaps is more correct; When pronounced it sounds almost completely like 'On'; the 'L' sound often is omitted altogether, and it is often written 'On', esp. in Canada.

There is a Canadian childrens' song teaching the use of On:
On, Ont
Sous le pont d'Avignon Yvon danse, Léon danse
Sous le pont d'Avignon, on y danse, tous en rond
Ils ont l'air des bouffons,
elles ont des ailes des papillons.

Also the first lines may be written:
Sur le pont d'Avignon l'on y dansait
Sur le pont d'Avignon l'on y dansait tout en ronde.

Take yer pick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 11:23 AM

Originally the bridge at Avignon consisted in excess of 20 arches which crossed the very wide, floodable area through which the Rhone flows. Centuries of floods, inundations, floating debris and no doubt mans warlike interventions have resulted in only 6 arches remaining. It was during one of these floods when the couples danced and sang "sous la pont" that the waters rose very quickly and washed them all to their doom, all to be found, washed up in the Carmague. The Pope who happened to be in residence at the time, viewing the terrible event from his "fallaise" on the citadel was so appalled and saddened that he approached the town council and it was agreed that, from thence, the song would be changed and the young dancers would only dance "sur la pont". This historic occurrence heralded the first European Health & Safety Executive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 11:40 AM

"Sur la pont" is simply a corruption of "Sous la pont" which was indeed the original. It referred to a dance venue under the bridge. It is one of these errors that quickly spreads and drives out the original - A bit like singing "for the sake of auld lang syne" instead of "for auld lang syne" which is the original. It has to be said that mistaking "Sous" and "Sur" in an easy enough mistake.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 07:59 AM

I gather that originally it was 'Sous le pont ...'. Quite when or why it became 'Sur le pont ...' I don't know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 03:09 AM

Bah! Failed to follow my own link!
The lyrics I found had a link to another page that did indeed have the lyric.

And here it is!

http://cafe.rapidus.net/lylafren/bottine1.html

-Cameron

---

LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE

LA TRAVERSÉE DE L’ATLANTIQUE

SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON

 

SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON, SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON (BIS)

TROIS DAMES S’Y PROMÈNENT OH MA DONDAINE

TROIS DAMES S’Y PROMÈNENT OH MA DONDÉ

TOUT EN S’Y PROMENANT, TOUT EN S’Y PROMENANT (BIS)

ELLES ONT PERDU LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDAINE

ELLES ONT PERDU LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDÉ

TROIS ALLEMANDS PASSANT (BIS)

ONT RAPAILLÉ LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDAINE

ONT RAPAILLÉ LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDÉ

ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS !

RENDEZ-MOI DONC MES PERLES OH MA DONDAINE

RENDEZ-MOI DONC MES PERLES OH MA DONDÉ

JE TE LES RENDRAI BIEN, JE TE LES RENDRAI BIEN (BIS)

UN BAISER DE VOUS BELLE OH MA DONDAINE

UN BAISER DE VOUS BELLE OH MA DONDÉ

PRENDS-EN UN, PRENDS-EN DEUX (BIS)

PRENDS-EN DONC À TON AISE OH MA DONDAINE

PRENDS-EN DONC À TON AISE OH MA DONDÉ

MAIS NE T’EN VANTE PAS (BIS)

CAR TOUT CEUX QUI S’EN VANTENT OH MA DONDAINE

N’ONT PAS À SE REPRENDRE OH MA DONDÉ

---

Lyrics copy-pasted from the link cited above.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 03:03 AM

I'm particulary fond of another tune with the same name but completely different lyrics. It can be found on "La Traversée de L'Atlantique" a recording by the lovely French Canadian band _La Bottine Souriante_.

One of the artists once told me the original Canadian pressing of the album included the French lyics. Alas I have been unable to find it and only have the Green Linnet recording.

I found some of the lyrics, but not all.

http://www.acpo.on.ca/claude/bottine/chanson/

In particular the lyric to the song of synonymous name is missing...

Perhaps the intrepid posters could find it?
-Cameron

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 01:38 PM

Mrrzy, I just listened to the Jean Sablon ("The French Bing Crosby") recording, and, in 1939, he sang "on y" and "tous"--

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 07:37 AM

Mrrzy, as a kid, I learned it "L'on y danse" and "tout",not "tous" en rond. I could be way off on this, but I have the impression that the way I learned it is the Canadian way. Our French is a bit different from our European cousins.

Alphonse Daudet wrote it: "Il faut qu'il danse," which I think plays heck with the meter. But Daudet actually lived there, so maybe this is the indigenous way.

And I know of no standard dance to the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:42 PM

Mrrzy -
Now where do I find the dance steps?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:32 PM

Wow! Thanks!

I wait ten minutes and click "refresh" and there it is!
Good job, mousethief.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:30 PM

Let me say this about that: it seems to be only the English speakers who say L'on y danse. Every francophone I know sings it On y danse. And all the comme-ci comme-ça stuff involves motions, so when being the officier, you are danse courtlilier than when being the filles... what was the term for the moves done during songs? My niece used to call them the instruments...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: MK
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:23 PM

or here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:22 PM

3 minutes! I'm gonna give some of you old-timers a run for your money!

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: ADD: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:21 PM

clicky

Alex
O..O
=o=

---

1. Sur le pont d'Avignon, L'on y danse, l'on y danse, Sur le pont d'Avignon L'on y danse tout en rond. Les beaux messieurs font comme ça Et puis encore comme ça. Sur le pont d'Avignon L'on y danse tout en rond. 2. Sur le pont d'Avignon, L'on y danse, l'on y danse, Sur le pont d'Avignon L'on y danse tout en rond. Les belles dames font comme ça Et puis encore comme ça. Sur le pont d'Avignon, L'on y danse, l'on y danse, Sur le pont d'Avignon L'on y danse tout en rond.

3. Les officiers font comme ça 4. Les bébés font comme ça 5. Les bons amis font comme ça 6. Les musiciens font comme ça 7. Et les abbés font comme ça 8. Et les gamins font comme ça 9. Les Laveuses font comme ça

---

Lyrics copy-pasted from the link cited above.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 03:18 PM

Hi, all!

Looking for the full lyrics to this song that I remember only vaguely from French Immersion.

"Sur Le Pont D'Avignon
on y dance, on y dance" ...

Or however it goes.

Thanks in advance,
hesperis