Req/ADD: French folk songs

Subject: Lyrics request for french folk songs"
From:
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 01:48 AM

I am looking for the lyrics for the traditional french folk songs such as "Alouette", "Frere Jacques", "Au claire de la lune" and others.

Je cherche les paroles pour les chansons folkloriques francaises tel qu'indique.

Subject: RE:
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 09:16 AM

Alouette and Au Clair de la Lune are on the DT. Search "lune" and "alouette".

Tiger

Subject: Lyr Add: AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE et FRERE JAQUES
From: Kathleen
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 11:20 AM

Here are the words for AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE:

Au clair de la lune,
Mon ami Pierrot,
Prête moi ta plume,
Pour écrire un mot.
Ma chandelle est morte,
Je n'ai pas de feu;
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l'amour de Dieu.

Here are the words to FRÈRE JACQUES:

Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines: Sonnez les matines:
Din, Din, Don, Din, Din, Don.

Here are the lyrics for LES PETITES MARIONNETTES:

Ainsi font, font, font,
Les petites marionnettes,
Ainsi font, font, font,
Trois p'tits tours et puis s'en vont!


I got these lyrics out of The Golden Song Book, 56 Favourite Songs And Singing Games. Selected and Arranged by Katherine Tyler Wessells. Published by Western Publishing Company, Inc. Have fun!

Subject: RE:
From: Susan of DT
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 03:25 PM

Kathleen - that is just the first verse of Au Claire de la Lune. Like Ralph said - The lyrics are in the Digital Tradition

Subject: RE:
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 31 Dec 96 - 04:03 PM

I learned this one at school many years ago. The tune is Three Blind Mice.

Quand trois poules vont au champ, La première va devant, La seconde suit la première, la troisième va la dernière, Quand trois poules vont au champ, La première va devant.

I'm sure that half the spelling is wrong so come on all you Frenchmen out there, give us some of the real stuff.

Bert.

Subject: RE:
From: Thierry
Date: 20 Jan 97 - 11:47 AM

Un deux trois J'irai dans les bois Quatre cinq six Cueillir des cerises Sept huit neuf Dans mon panier neuf Dix onze douze Elles seront toutes rouges!

One of the songs I learned when I was a child. I must confess I never heard about your song, Bert. Shame on me!

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 12:40 PM

Since this thread first posted lasted December, and new websites appear all the time, has anyone found a site for French folk songs? Especially songs from places other than Canada. (The database has very few songs in French, and most of those are Canadian. Fine collections of Canadian French songs are not too hard to find, either.) Any Francophiles or French Caribbean or Cajun folk music lovers among us, peut-être?

Subject: RE:
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 03:32 PM

You can always do a search for @French

Subject: RE: French Folksong
From: Cliff McGann
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 06:52 PM

Obviously most people are aware of the wealth of French Folk Song from Canada. I am working on a review essay of French Canadian Folk Music and came across a company called Thirty Below www.qbc.clic.net\~thirtybe which specializes in Quebecois Folk Music. They are the best resource for folk song/trad music. A couple of other good sources are Marius Barbeau's Folk Songs of Old Quebec (Nat. Museum of Canada Bulletin #75) and his Folk Songs of French Canada Yale UP 1925 (if you can find a copy). People also forget about the strong French tradition in Cape Breton (Cheticamp etc.), Newfoundland (Port au Port), PEI and especially New Brunswick. So for those looking for a good reference to Acadian Maritime songs find a copy of La Fleur Du Rosier Univ. College of Cape Breton & National Museum of Civilization by Helen Creighton and Ronald Labelle. Some great songs with music and translations. I think you can get a copy through amazon.com

Subject: French Folk Songs
From:
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 07:08 PM

There are also Franco-Ontarian songs. Locally here in Windsor there are two tapes/CD's of which I am aware, by Marcel Beneteau, of old French songs of the Detroit River area which he collected from old notebooks and preserved for posterity. There are many French people left here yet.

I don't know much about folk music from France itself, and most of what I have heard is from the various French -speaking communties in Canada or Louisiana. I must say I have never heard much from France except for the Breton songs in French on some of the Chieftains releases. There was also a Celtic band from Brittany that sang in French as well as Breton, but I heard them many years ago and unfortunately cannot recall their name. The name Na Cabarfeidh appears on my poster for the 1980 Atlantic Folk Festival and that might be it.

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 07:13 PM

Thanks to Cliff McGann; sounds like a handy new reference!

Dear Mr. Greenhaus:

Did that first, silly!

Results:

20 listings, total, (See below), of which 7 are other than Canadian. (I believe ALOUETTE is Canadian, though not shown here.) This means that if LA MARSEILLAISE is given only 1/2 credit, ( 14 Juillet occurring but once per annum, n'est pas?), the percentage of non-Canadian French songs in the database is .001 (1/1000)! Hardly a respectable set there. Checking under @Cajun yields two songs, only one of which comes with French lyrics; @Carribean and @Polynesian fetch nothing, and @Calypso has only English lyrics. L'Injustice, mes amies! Quelle Horreur!

1) ALOUETTE: @French @bird @animal @camp

2) AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE: @French

3) AUPRÈS DE MA BLONDE: @Canada @French

4) BELLE QUI TIENS MA VIE:@French

5) CHEVALIERS DE LA TABLE RONDE: @French @drink

6) DANSE DES FOINS: @Canada @French @farmer @work

7) EN MONTANT LA RIVIÈRE: @Canada @French

8) ISABEAU S'Y PROMÈNE: @Canada @French

9) À LA CLAIRE FONTAINE: @French @love

10) LA COMPLAINTE DE SPRINGHILL: @Canada @mining @disaster @French

11) LA LAINE DES MOUTONS:@Canada @French @animal

12) LA MARSEILLAISE: @French @patriotic @war

13) LES RAFTSMEN: @Canada @French @river @work

14) PRINCE EUGÈNE: @French @Canada

15) ROULEZ, JEUNES GENS, ROULEZ!: @French @sailor

16) SEPT ANS SUR MER: @French @sailor @cannibal

17) UN CANADIEN ERRANT: @French @Canada @home @outlaw

18) V'LÀ L'BON VENT: @Canada @French

19) VIVE L'AMOUR: @French @drink

20) THE WILD GOOSE (2): @Canada @French @animal @bird

Since I have dutifully done my homework, I hope I may now safely pursue my request for any OTHER sources of French folk songs, and a connection to other folk who fancy 'em. If we cast about some, we may yet be of some small service to The Database by reeling in a few fine, fat chansons en Francais to add!

Bon soir,

Shula

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 07:22 PM

Isn't an "allouette" a nightingale? We don't have nightingales in Canada.

I'm sad to see that Youpi! Youpi!, that jolly and uptempo riverman's song , is not in there.

As for Cajun songs, the Balfour Brothers did many. I think Zachery Richard did as well. The Acadian group (as in French from the original Acadia; some got away or came back) used to do a song I always assumed was Cajun, called La Maudit Guerre (pardon my spelling) about the expulsion of the Acadians.

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 02 Sep 97 - 10:25 PM

À Monsieur Jacques,

Mais non, mon frère: "Alouette" ne = pas "Nightingale;" Alouette" = "Skylark." Je pense que c'est un chanson Québecquois! (Vous n'avez aucun de nightingales?! Tant pis! C'est, peut-être, l'explication pour les hivers si froid en Canada, ce n'est pas vrai?)

Merci pour les idées! Et, si vous avez les mots de "Youpi! Youpi!" pour vos amis ici, -- merci, encore une fois, cher!

À demain,

Shula

Subject: RE:
From: John Nolan
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 12:40 AM

A French traditional singer called Guy Beart? (I lent my one album to someone, so unsure of his surname) has recorded some interesting things. A very old song, Au Marches du Palais (on the steps of the palace) comes to mind, all about a Princess prefering a little cobbler (in pre-paparazzi days, naturellement)

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 09:56 AM

What is a "skylark"? Do we have those in Canada? I can't tell a sparrow from a wren.

I will dig out my old Stringband album (the Canadian group from Toronto, not the Incredible String Band) and see if I can get the lyrics to Youpi! Youpi!

Another song is the one about the Quebecois exiled after the rebellion in the 1830's. It's a very popular Quebecois nationalist song, but a very pretty song none the less.

I lent my Marcel Beneteau CD to a friend. I will get it back and submit the lyrics to the database. I was unaware that it accepted French songs. These songs are fairly rare and should be preserved.

Sorry I can't reply in French. Mine isn't good enough that I feel confident to post in it although I know enough to get by. My family hasn't spoken French as its native tongue since the King of France chased us out and over to Yorkshire in the time of Good Queen Bess.

Subject: RE:
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 10:23 AM

We have a few problems in dealing with non-English-language songs. a) We haven't found a way to search on accented leters, although we can enter such in the database. b)Our contributors seem to overwhelmingly favor English-language materials. c) I usually wind up editing, and I'm totally incompetent in any language except English.Considering the wild folk-spelling variations we receive, I think that the editing is essential.

Having said all this, I'd love to get more non-English-language material. Anybody have any suggestions on how best to deal with the problems?

Subject: RE:
From: rechal
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 02:52 PM

Dick: Maybe an auxiliary forum? Or a sub-page? Or how about only accepting postings in Esperanto from here on out?

In the meantime, is anyone interested in the lyrics to "En Passant par la Lorraine (Avec Mes Sabots)"?

Subject:
From:
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 04:11 PM

I don't think it necessary to include the French accents etc. Those who can speak and read French know where they are supposed to be anyway. (WordPerfect 7 has the ability to insert those but I don't know how it could be translated into ASCII.)

As to spelling, those who submit the words can do so on ASCII and be responsible for that.

You could have a subdatabase for French songs, but it doesn't appear that you have that many that it matters at this point.

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 10:05 PM

Dear Mr. Greenhaus,

Can't be much help with ASCII, but would be glad to edit any lyrics submitted in standard French, until a native speaker offers. Others, more knowledgeable in the vocabulary and syntax of other forms of the language, could pick up the slack in those departments -- how about it mes amis?

Have a friend who might be willing to do the same for your Spanish contributions.

Shula

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 10:14 PM

Tim Jaques: Ornithologically speaking, I wouldn't know 'em apart either. Just vaguely recall the odes of Mssrs. Keats and Shelley on the fowl in question. My own French, a relic of childhood, is well-rusted, I assure you; I simply have no shame! Thanks for correcting my spelling of "Quebecois;" just guessed; glad to get it right.

John Nolan: Do, please, let us have the lyrics to Au Marche Du Palais!

Songs suitable for children, like Elle Était Une Beérgèere, and Sur Le Pont D'Avignon, are not yet in the database. Though not so rare and precious as the tantalising prospects mentioned above, it would be nice to have more than a couple of verses for each, which is all my feeble memory can recall.

À bientôt,

Shula

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 10:16 PM

Bergère, sorry.

Shula

Subject: RE:
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 03 Sep 97 - 10:53 PM

Shula: I'd be delighted to accept your offer of help in editing. Now I just need some contributions.

We don' need no steenking subdatabases.

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 10:54 AM

I found a few, from France, at http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/1401/

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 11 Sep 97 - 10:02 PM

I too could help edit French lyrics now and then, until a native speaker comes along.

No, we don't have nightingales (in French, "rossignols") here in the New Improved World. Skylarks are also Old World birds, but oddly enough the answer to Tim's question is yes, you do have them in Canada, since they've been successfully introduced on Vancouver Island.

In France, "alouette" = "lark" ("Skylark" = "alouette des champs", lark of the fields) If memory serves, the bird the French-Canadians call "alouette" is the one we English-speaking North Americans call "robin" (although it's only distantly related to the European robin and even more distantly related to the larks). Unfortunately, my French-English dictionary has too strong a European bias to include American names for birds.

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 11 Sep 97 - 10:42 PM

Jerry, you raise a nice point, the whole issue of regional differences, which is a stumbling block for me in checking the French entries in the DT. I am familiar with standard, i.e. Parisian French, and even that, from childhood. Would love help correcting these songs, especially those in Canadian and other forms of French. Propose I send questionable lines, words, phrases to you on your personal page, and you respond in kind. This way, you are spared miles of unnnecessary verbiage to check, and I can rely on a better informed source for the truly questionable material. What say?

Dick : What's the word on accents; shall I include 'em or not? Recently found many more songs while surfing; -- interested?

Shula

Subject: RE:
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 11 Sep 97 - 11:05 PM

Hi Shula- The problem with accents isn't at my end--I can include them easily. It occurs when people try to seach for words containing accented letters.

Suggest you skip the accents.

Subject: RE:
From: Shula
Date: 11 Sep 97 - 11:15 PM

Dick : Wouldn't a simple direction, appended to the search rectangle, saying "Use no accents," permit the more accurate version to be included in the DT? Non-English entries could have double titles, or even double versions, one without diacriticals. What do others think? Tim? Jerry?

Shula

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: RS
Date: 12 Sep 97 - 12:16 AM

On 16 July 1997 I posted a request for the lyrics for "Mama Les P'tits Bateaux" - to which Wolfgang promptly responded with the web address of: http://www.imaginet.fr/momes/comptines/ - COMPTINES,CHANSONS ET POESIES - which includes lots of lyrics plus music, as well as links to many other French sites. (He said he found it through a "Dogpile" Search for "les petits bateaux").

May I also draw your attention to the "Au Claire De La Lune - Lyr Addn (new version)" thread which I posted on 02 Sept 1997 and subsequently.

Subject: Lyr Add: AUX MARCHES DU PALAIS
From:
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 07:03 AM

Hi, I'm putting the accents in (in html) because
whatever you decide to do it's easier to take them out
than put them back in. By the way, there are lots of
French folk songs, but they often pass for children's
songs, that's why 'serious' singers rarely sing them.
Guy Béart is an exception.

About the accents and searching, what about putting
the accents in, but add the non-accented word next to it inside an html tag, so it will be hidden to view, but searchable? Is that too much editing work?


AUX MARCHES DU PALAIS

Aux marches du palais (bis)
Y'a une tant belle fille lon-la,
Y'a une tant belle fille

Elle a tant d'amoureux
Qu'elle ne sait lequel prendre

C'est un p'tit cordonnier
Qui a eu sa préférence

C'est en chaussant son pied
Qu'il lui fit sa demande

La belle si tu voulais
Nous dormirions ensemble

Dans un grand lit carré
Tout orné de taies blanches

Dans le mitan du lit
La rivière est profonde

Tous les chevaux du roi
Pourraient y boire ensemble

Et là nous dormirions
Jusqu'à la fin du mode

---

Note from Joe Offer - Explanation from Monique P received 1 May 2008:

The song was reported as early as 1732 and 1738. The music was different from the tune we sing nowadays (the latter was popularized by Yves Montand's recording in 1955) and was taken from a book published in 1732 but it was inspired by older songs forming the group known as "La Flamande" that had been previously published by Jehan Chardavoine ("Recueil des plus belles et excellentes chansons en forme de voix des villes", 1575). More than 40 versions have been published between 1732 and 1910 according to Patrice Coirault.
Claude Duneton points the hidden sexual meaning of two verses "Aux quatre coins du lit/ le rossignol y chante" = "On the four corners of the bed, the nightingale is singing" (it's mostly known as "Aux quatre coins du lit/un bouquet de pervenches"= ... a bunch of periwinkles") and "Dans la mitan du lit, la rivière est profonde" = "In the middle of the bed, the river is deep", the nightingale and the deep river representing respectively male and female genitals as anybody would guess (actually, "nightingale" is one of the words we call a little boy's willy), then you imagine the singing of the nightingale as suits you best.
In the midi file attached, you can hear two voices successively. Sometimes, in the lowest voice, the "lon la" is omitted so that the highest voice "lon la" can be heard better.

---

Click to play

Subject: RE:lyrics request for french folk songs
From: judy
Date: 27 Oct 97 - 10:25 PM

Shula and other Francophiles:

Finally got off my posterior to look through my record, book, and song collections to give you an answer with details.

For a terrific and concise collection of French (and other country's) songs I recommend the book:

1000 CHANTS chosen by Jean Edel Berthier published by Presses D'ile-de-France, 12, rue de la Chasse, Paris VIIe, France.

I bought this little book in Paris and enjoyed it so much that I wrote to the publisher and ordered 1000 CHANTS (2). I find that most of the books that contain the most popular traditional music is either in children's books or scouting type books. Here are a couple more:

JEUNESSE QUI CHANT and CHANSONS DU BLE QUI LEVE both put out by Les Editions Ouvrieres, 12, Avenue de la Soeur-Rosalie, Paris 13eme

CHANTER POUR DANSER, a book of fingerplays and playparty dances published by 100 Idees Editions Fleurus, 31, Rue de Fleurus, Paris 6e

In a more comtemporary vein I love Georges Brassens who writes songs such as "Les Amoureux Des Bancx Publics" (with a record of the same name on Philips 6499777) about lovers who sit kissing on public benches ignoring everyone who walks by looking at them. And another called "Brave Margot". When she unbuttons her blouse to give a little "gougoutte" (diminutive for taste) to her cat, all the guys in the village gather round. He has tons of others that are terrific and the music is great too. The Petite Larousse Illustre describes him as "Auteur de chansons poetiques, pleines de verve et de non-conformisme." I bought the book in hardcover (if you knew me, this is the indication of high regard, for I'd rather buy three paperbacks than use the money on a hardcover): BRASSENS published by (?) Editions Musicales 57. Other "popular" singers: Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and Georges Moustaki.

My husband and I are very into Breton and Provence music. I also like Parisian button accordian music and Quebequoise (mangled sp?) music. I will give you the name of the group, one record title and the record company. We have more titles if anyone wants. Here's my recommendations:

Breton:
Maluzerne, "Maluzerne" on Le Chant du Monde (a lot of dance music some singing)
Malicorne, "Malicorne" on Disques Hexagone
Tri Yann, "Les filles des forges" on Marzelle
Melusine, "Leve toi et danse!" on Polydor
An Triskell, "Kroaz hent" on Le Chant du Monde

Parisian Accordian:
Marc Perrone, "Marc Perrone" on Polydor

Provence:
Mont-Joia, "Cant e musica de provenca XIIeme - XXeme" on Le Chants du Monde
Lo Jai, " Musiques traditionnelles du limousin", on Revolum
Les Menestriers, "Vive Henri IV" on RCA

Quebec:
La Bottine Souriante, "Y a ben du changement" on Le Tamanoir
Le Reve du Diable, "Le Reve du Diable" on CBS

If I get more time I'll try to add some lyrics to the database.

a bientot
judy

Subject: RE:lyrics request for french folk songs
From: judy
Date: 31 Oct 97 - 03:11 AM

I just added the lyrics to a Halloween type song in French which is on the Tri Yann record mentioned above. see ADD: Complainte de la Blanche Biche. I tried to translate it. I could use some help for missing and mangled translation please. Song is about a girl whose brother kills her while she is in the form of a white stag (I know that stag is male but doe seemed too small and petite)

joyeux Halloween (what holiday like Halloween do they have? if any.
judy

Subject: RE:
From: Laoise
Date: 31 Oct 97 - 10:26 AM

Ca va, tout le monde?

C'est moi. C'est longtemps que je vous avez "parler", malheureus! Je suis tres ocupee avec les etudes en ce moment et c'est tres dificile de trouver le temps de m'amuser sur le 'computer'. Je m'excuse.

Alors, j'ai vue ce "thread" (masc or fem?) au jourd'hui, et j'ai decide de dire bonjour a tous mes amis de Mudcat.

SAAAA - LOOOOO

Et, je voudrais faire un contribution aux "linx" Les Chansons populaire de France. Il y a un station sur l'internet qui donne beaucoup des chansons a peu pres de "Alouette". Il s'appelle Les Comptines mais je ne sais pas si quelqu'un l'a donne deja. Si non, voici le location - http://www.imaginet.fr/momes/comptines/

Amusez vous bien. J'espere parler avec tout le monde a bientot (en Anglais je pense).

Grosses Bissess Slan go foill

Laoise de Belfast.

Subject: chansons, accents, toussaint, et tout et tout
From: Charles
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 07:02 AM

Hi,

Judy: the French celebrate the Toussaint (=all saints, "All Hallows") which is the celebration Halloween ("All Hallow's eve") comes from. Halloween has become a celtic celebration in recent times - it was brought to America by the conquistadores, for whom all saints was a big Christian event (it still is in Spain). The Indians (?) of Central America they converted added to it death imagery and philosophy that came from their own religion (Halloween, well, All Saints, is still a big thing in Mexico today). Working its way north, a Hispano-Indian, Roman Catholic mixture of Christianity, superstition and traditional beliefs revived a moribund All Hallows' celebration. Of course, in true folk "recycling" tradition, it is now a ancient celtic mysterious feast, but it just hasn't been ancient for very long :-)

About the Blanche biche, a biche is definitely a doe. A deer is a cerf (red deer) or a daim (a smaller, southerner species).

Finally thanks for the disco & biblio-graphy... That folk songs are published in scouting, children and religious associations' books was so obvious to me that I would even have thought of saying so. Nice to know there are fans of George Brassens too.

Charles

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: judy
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 03:27 PM

Charles: Right, I'd forgotten Toussaint. But what do they do on Toussaint's Day? Do they dress up, or is it a church thing? I just heard that the Japanese have started celebrating Halloween like we do because some Americans didn't want their kids to miss out and had a parade and trick or treating. Thanks for all the info. about deer. The Halloween information I have is the other way around. Halloween and All Saints Day came from the Celtic new year Samhain. Like you say, the native cultures in Mexico, Central and South America also had celebrations regarding the dead. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) IS a very big thing where they even go to the gravesite and have a meal. I think I remember somewhere in Asia people are very into taking care of the gravesites and have very elaborate ones; almost like mausoleums.

I've added a thread called Halloween Origins with all the specifics so that the Halloween thread people (and anyone else) can see it. (And it was terribly long and seemed a bit preachy of me). Here's the short version. Info taken from an article by Eric A. Kimmel in the Oct 1980 issue of Cricket Magazine:

Celts: Samhain New Year Festival on Nov 1st Romans (1AD): Feralia Festival end of Oct. Indigenous Peoples: celebration of the dead Christians (800AD): All Saint's or All Hallow's Day (Nov 1st) and All Soul's Day (nov 2nd)

judy

Subject: RE:
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Nov 97 - 06:08 PM

Having just returned from France, I can report that the French have discovered Halloween in a big way, thanks to France Telecom, which marketed pumpkins so that they could sell their new cellphone called "OLA" under the ad, "OLAWEEN". Watchers of CNN may have seen the Trocadero (opposite the Eiffel Tower) tricked out in thousands of pumpkins along the contour lines of the landscape -- typical French, develop a new stylistic artistic form. A great debate is raging about whether this represents the latest Americanization or a Celtic rebirth or something to market in the runup to Christmas. Naturally, it is accompanied by handwringing, mingled with the traditional Parisian love of dressing up. Why didn't they discover this before? Adding to the ghoulishness: 300 yards away from the Trocadero, the Japanese tour buses now slowly drive past the Diana death site. Above, a monument to Liberty (the International Herald Tribune donated a facsimile of the flame of the torch of liberty in 1987 which just happens to perch atop the freeway site!) has been coopted by the mourners, who scribble graffiti day and night..... Macabre, mes braves, macabre.... Yours, Peter

Subject: RE:
From: judy
Date: 08 Nov 97 - 01:02 AM

Peter,

Love the internet where you ask and it shall be (IS) answered.

judy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req - Bilingual french!
From:
Date: 09 Jan 98 - 03:11 AM

I recall hearing a song on the radio, probably in the the early to mid 70's -- which no one else I know seems to remember. It was sung by (I believe) a male accompanied by an acoustic guitar and little (if anything) else, I think.

The chorus was in French, which I do NOT know, so I won't attempt to mangle it here. However, the verses were in English, bits and pieces of which I remember and I believe this is (roughly) the first verse:

...Mr. Moon flew away in the night His best friend Magnus(?) right by his side They flew through the milky way counting the stars Once around Venus, twice around Mars.

I want to say the chorus involves something about "les petites enfants" as a rhymed couplet with "tout le monde", but I could just be completely insane. (I was very young at the time I heard it and my friends all think I made it up when I sing it to them!)

Any help is mucho appreciado!

Subject: RE: French Canadian Folk Songs
From: Marie Henault, de Montreal
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 07:27 PM

When I was little (35 years ago), my greatgrandmother, Eva Lefebvre, had a book of French Canadian folk songs from a few hundred years ago - when the French came to Canada. I remember: Meunier, Tu dors. Ton moulin va trop vite. Meunier, Tu dors. Ton moulin va trop fort. Ton moulin ton moulin ton moulin va trop vite, ton moulin ton moulin ton moulin va trop fort. Also, Alouette; Au clair de la lune; Le petit mousse - which I barely remember - had to do with drawing the short straw. And one with Mironton Mironton Mirontaine: ?? s-en va-t-en guerre, Mironton ...

Si vous pouvez continuer, aidez-moi. If you can pick it up, please help me.

Marie

Subject: RE:
From: Dan Calder
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 06:21 AM

I've mentioned this group before, but I can't help but throw in a plug whenever I get a chance. No, I don't get a kick-back, I just happen to think they do a great job on folk tunes. The guys are from the Peterborough, Ontario region, and go by the name of Tanglefoot. I've seen them twice in concert here in Nova Scotia, and I heartily recommend them.

Their web site is:

http://www.kawartha.com/tanglefoot/

In response to the topic of this thread, they have a cassette of traditonal French songs based on the fur-trade in Canada. It's called:

Voyageurs & Vagabonds (1989) Tanglefoot's cassette of traditional French-Canadian voyageur songs (Cassette only).

Enjoy,

Dan

Subject: RE:
From: Jonathan
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 12:06 PM

Yahoo!Quel pure dead brilliant thread! My advice to anyone in the world is.....buy all the Malicorne CDs. As far as French music is concerned they are IT, and possibly the best in any language.

If anyone wants I can post 'Perrine etait servante', 'Blanche Niege' 'Voila le Printemps' and any Malicorne, but if they're posted elsewhere let me know and I won't bother. ALSO.... "Buvons un coup, Buvons en deux, a la sante des amoureux, a la sante du roide france, et merde pour le roi d'angleterre Qui nous a declare la guerre."

A bientot.....Jonathan

Subject: RE:
From: Graeme
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 05:16 PM

On the subject of chansons francaises, does anyone know the lyrics to three songs I learnt at school, back in the early fourteenth century.

They were:

"Dominique" and Entre les étoiles" sung by somebody called the "The Singing Nun" (Around 1966)

"Je suis prisonnier du boulot" - sometime in the sixties, haven't a clue who sang it.

Last one - cabt remember title or singer, but the first couple of lines were:

Qui a eu cette idee faux Pour inventer les ecoles? (x 2) C'est ce sacre Charlemagne Sacre Charlemagne

Fils d'un cochon, le chien

etc etc

Hardly folk songs, but they might make amusing little ditties now the winter evenings are here.........

Bon Chance, mes amis (et amies) du Mudcat!

Graeme

Subject: RE:
From: BAZ
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 05:29 PM

The Cornish have a close affinity with the Bretons and they speak a type of French so here you go!
Broder Jaka Broder Jaka
Koska wreth Koska Wreth
De da dibri Pasti de da dibri Pasti
Na borth meth Na borth meth.
Regards Baz

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 05:38 PM

The French do indeed have pumpkins. They have started growing them around here for Halloween purposes. They are a strange shade of orange and are perfectly shaped for jack o' lanterns.

Subject: Lyr Add: LE TRENTE ET UN DU MOIS D'AOUT
From: Jonathan
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 04:30 AM

I'm posting this one anyway, 'cos I like it.

LE TRENTE ET UN DU MOIS D'AOUT

le trente et un du mois d'août (2)
nous aperçûmes sous l'vent à nous (2)
une frégate d'Angleterre
qui fendait la mer et les flots,
c'était pour attaquer Bordeaux.

le capitaine du bâtiment (2)
fit appeler son lieutenant (2)
lieutenant, te sens-tu le courage
dis-moi te sens-tu assez fort
pour prendre l'Anglais à son bord?

le lieutenant, fier et hardi (2)
lui répondit capitaine oui (2)
faites monter tout l'équipage
hardis gabiers, fiers matelots,
faites monter tout le monde en haut

le maître donne un coup de sifflet (2)
en haut larguez les perroquets (2)
larguez les ris, et vent arrière
laissez porter jusqu'à son bord
pour voir qui sera le plus fort

vir' lof pour lof, en arrivant (2)
nous l'avons pris par son avant (2)
à coups de haches d'abordage
des piques et des mousquetons,
nous l'avons mis à la raison

que dira-t-on du grand rafiot(2)
à Brest, à Londres et à Bordeaux (2)
qui a laissé prendre son équipage
par un corsaire de six canons,
lui qui en avait trente, et si bons.

Jonathan

---

from Monique:
Here is the midi for the shanty "Le 31 du mois d'août." According to Jean-Claude Klein (Florilège de la chanson française- Bordas) this song would be one of the many that would tell Surcouf's feats of arms against the British ships in the 19th century. The line "À la santé du roi de France" (to the King of France's health) would indicate that the song was written after Napoleon's Empire.

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Dominique
From: Jackrabbit
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 10:30 PM

Here's the refrain. If I find the rest of the song in the song book I got while at summer school at St Pierre and Miquelon, I'll add them:

Dominique, nique, nique
S'en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tout chemin, en tout lieu
Il ne parle que du bon Dieu,
Il ne parle que du bon Dieu.

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 29 Oct 98 - 01:28 AM

I think it was Malbrouck (francization of Marlborough) who went to war (mironton, mironton, mirontaine).

I have a version that I will post tomorrow if nobody beats me to it.

Frank Phillips

Subject: Lyr Add: JANETON
From: JB3
Date: 29 Oct 98 - 03:26 AM

Rechal, "Avec Mes Sabots" is a lovely folk-song that most French children know. I wish you would post it. I learned it many years ago during the vendage (while cutting the grapes). I also learned "Janeton" from a young french girl named Corinne:
JANETON

Janeton prends sa faucille
La rirette, la rirette
Janeton prends sa faucille
Et s'en va couper des joncs
Et s'en va couper des joncs

En chemin elle rencontre
Quatre et jeunes et beaux garçons

Le premier un peu timide
Lui chatouille le menton

Le deuxième un peu moins sage
Lui souleva son jupon

Le troisième encore moins sage
L'allongea sur le gazon

Ce que fit le quatrième
N'est pas dit dans la chanson

La morale de cette histoire
C'est que les hommes sont des cochons

La morale de cette morale
C'est que les femmes aiment les cochons!

How this song progresses from a maiden going out to cut corn(?), to meeting up with four less and less mannerly young men, to the conclusion that women love pigs, should probably be translated by someone who speaks French better than I do. As I mentioned, I learned this song from a co-worker while crawling beside or bending over the grapevines. Usually, we worked in pairs, one taking either side of the row. No one seemed to pay much attention to us until we got to the end, when invariably, all the men in the vineyard would stand and lustily sing along with the last verse!

Subject: RE: pumpkins
From: jo
Date: 29 Oct 98 - 07:19 PM

French farmer friend tells me they've always been around here ( I'm in Normandy). They would be put in crop fields with a lighted candle inside to scare off bad spirits and/or voleurs. Not much to do with music though. Several bands around here doing Quebecois music - La Tuque Bleue, Le Diable dans la Fourche, Mes Souliers sont Rouges.

Subject: RE:
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 30 Oct 98 - 05:10 AM

Graeme,

here's Dominique including an English translation and the music et voilà Sacré Charlemagne (singer: France Gall).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From:
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 11:08 PM

Hello everyone. I originally submitted the request for the lyrics for French folk songs back in 1996. In the meantime, someone referred me to the following URL where I found the information I was looking for. In case anyone is interested, please go to this site:

www.momes.net/comptines.

Merci beaucoup!

Subject: RE:lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Jack Hickman
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 12:15 AM

A wealth of French and Quebec folk songs can be found in the work of the late Mary Travers, otherwise affectionately know in Quebec as "La Bolduc." I haven't been able to find my copy of a cassette tape I had, but I'm sure with a little diligent searching, they are to be found.

Jack Hickman

Subject: RE: 70's song with both French and English lyrics
From:
Date: 25 Jan 99 - 04:58 PM

The song mentioned is by Jimmy Buffett. It is Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants and can be found on the Volcano album. Great song. He also has done several other songs on different albums that include some French lines. L'Air de la Louisiane is one that is totally in French. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: French Folk songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jan 99 - 05:21 PM

Jack, the Mary Travers you speak of is certainly not the very-much-alive member of Peter, Paul & Mary. Are there two performers with the same name?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Georges Moustaki's Les Eaux de Mars in English
From:
Date: 05 Mar 99 - 01:09 PM

I am looking for the lyrics of the French songs entitled: ®Les eaux de mars¯ in French, English and Portuguese(as originally written in Brasil I think) Thanks a lot Thomas PS Drop me a line in French or in English

Subject: RE:punctuation
From: Philippa
Date: 11 Mar 99 - 11:21 AM

Can we use quotation marks in thread titles now? I notice that the overall thread title is enclosed in quotation marks. But in the reply box, under subject it just reads RE: unless the respondant types aomething in.

Subject: RE:
From:
Date: 11 Mar 99 - 03:05 PM

Edith Fowke, 'Chansons de Quebec'. 'Chansons Populaires de France: Du XV au XIX Siecle' (without the tunes), Paris, 1941.

Subject: RE:
From: Wotcha
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 11:46 PM

The Singing Nun (who popularized Dominique) was a French speaking Belgian (hence Walloon). I seem to recall that she died an inauspicious death in mid 1980s amid some sad controversy (at least according to the Belgians I knew). She helped get Debbie Reynolds out of a career doldrum. Walloon French uses a more logical system of counting: no quatre vingts-dixs or soixante-dixs (nonante for 90 and septante for 70). 5 trivia points. Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE:
From: Elizabeth
Date: 14 Mar 99 - 11:39 PM

Are there any French children's songs pertaining particularly to Easter? Cheers, Elizabeth.

Subject: Lyr Add: Malbrouck s'en va-t-en guerre
From: Haruo
Date: 01 Jul 02 - 10:51 PM

Frank Phillips, now is the time to post the rest of "Malbrouck". I just put the first stanza in a thread called High Germany, Who Wrote It and I urge you to add to what I began there.

Liland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 08:01 AM

Re
Subject: Lyr Add: JANETON
From: JB3
Date: 29 Oct 98 - 03:26 AM
in the discussion above:

Let's see, I'm replying to this one only, um, seven-plus years late. But anyway.

For JB3 -- for Corinne, JB3's informant -- and for anyone else who's struck out trying to find this song:

It's a phonetic variant title. The song is "Jeanneton," or "Jeanneton Prend Sa Faucille," which is easily found on the web.

Gotta give credit to my wife and ace researcher Amba Lee on this one. She, thinking back to years of French, realized that "Janeton" is not natively a French name -- even though I, thinking back to similar years of French, insisted it "could be" -- and going by sound alone, tried "Jeanneton" and found it.

It's actually a not uncommon French children's song. Midis or MP3s of the tune are less common, but can be found on the web as well.

Go Francaises!

Bob

Subject: Lyr Add: MON PERE N'AVAIT FILLE QUE MOI
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 04:33 PM

If you Google "Youpe Youpe" (rather than "Youpi Youpi") you will find a wealth of info on this song.

My favorite album of traditional French/Acadian music is "Pierre de Grenoble" by Gabriel Yacoub (the driving force behind the group Malicorne). A number of the songs appear on later Malicorne albums as well, though I've not heard them.
-----

In my teens, I learned "Mon pere n'avait fille que moi" from a slim collection of French folk songs that my brother had, now long lost. I've just searched for this song, and found several variants, also titled "Et moi je m'en passe" and "Marie-Madeleine".

Here is the version that I learned. The first verse provides the pattern for all following verses. The third line of each verse becomes the first (and second) lines of the next verse, so I have only provided the successive lines after the first verse.

MON PERE N'AVAIT FILLE QUE MOI
French, traditional

Mon père n'avait fille que moi,
Mon père n'avait fille que moi.
Encore sur la mer il m'envoie.
(Refrain:)
Mon coeur est en âge.
Tant d'amants qui se font l'amour
Et moi, je m'en passe.

Encore sur la mer il m'envoie.
Le marinier qui m'y menait
Il devint amoureux de moi.
"Ma mignonnette, embrassez-moi."
"Nenni, monsieur, je n'oserais,
Car si mon papa le savait,
Fille battue se serait moi!"
"Voyons, la belle, qui lui dirait?"
"Ce serai les oiseaux des bois."
"Les oiseaux des bois, parlent-ils?"
"Ils parlent français, latin aussi."
"Hélas, que le monde est malin
D'apprendre aux oiseaux le latin!"

A rather literal translation:
My father had no daughter but me
Once he sent me to sea
My heart is of age
So many lovers who make love
And me, I pass it by.
The sailor who took me there
He became enamored of me.
"My darling, embrace me."
"No, no, I wouldn't dare,
For if my father knew of it
A beaten girl is what I'd be."
"Look, my beauty, who'd tell him?"
"The birds in the woods would."
"Do the birds in the woods talk?"
"They speak French; Latin, too."
"Alas, how rotten the world is
To learn Latin from the birds!"
-----
Here are some variants I found.

A Russian site of French songs (http://www.frmusique.ru/) provides a version, under the artist Gilles Gosselin, which is similar to the above except that it stops at "Fille battue".
Cliquez

A version by the Dutch group (I'm guessing) "De Rommelpot", titled
"Mon coeur est en age"

A recitation of the song in the short story "La Chasse-Galerie", by Honoré Beaugrand (1848-1906) [repetitions omitted as above]:

Mon père n'avait fille que moi,
Canot d'écorce qui va voler,
Et dessus la mer il m'envoie:
Canot d'écorce qui vole, qui vole,
Canot d'écorce qui va voler !

Et dessus la mer il m'envoie,
Le marinier qui me menait,
Me dit, ma belle, embrassez-moi,
Non, non, monsieur, je ne saurais,
Car si mon papa le savait,
Ah ! c'est bien sûr qu'il me battrait.


And finally, Marie-Madeleine, at http://www.paroles.net/chansons/18099.htm:

Marie-Madeleine

1. Mon père n'avait fille que moi
Encore sur la mer il m'envoie

{Refrain:}
Marie-Madeleine son petit jupon de laine
Sa petite robe carreautée
Son petit jupon piqué

{Variante du Refrain:}
Marie-Madeleine
Son petit jupon de laine
Marie-Madelon
Son tout petit jupon

2. Encore sur la mer il m'envoie
Le marinier qui m'y menait
{au Refrain}

3. Le marinier qui m'y menait
Il devient amoureux de moué
{au Refrain}

4. Il devient amoureux de moué
La mignonnette, embrassez-moué

5. ... Nenni, Monsieur, je n'oserais

6. Car si mon père il le savait

7. Fille battue ce serait moué

8. Mais qui, la belle, le lui dirait ?

9. Ce seraient les oiseaux des bois

10. Parlent-ils les oiseaux des bois ?

11. Parlent latin, aussi françoué

12. Las, que malin le monde il est

13. D'apprendre aux oiseaux le françoué.

Another version of this can also be found at the Russian site, under "Divers".
-----
Codgerlé...

Subject: Lyr Add: LE CORBEAU ET LE RENARD
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 05:37 PM

Here's an alternate version of one of my favorites (not the version I sing).

LE CORBEAU ET LE RENARD

Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître Renard, par l'odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage :
"Hé ! bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.
Que vous êtes joli ! que vous me semblez beau !
Sans mentir, si votre ramage
Se rapporte à votre plumage,
Vous êtes le Phénix des hôtes de ces bois. "
À ces mots le Corbeau ne se sent pas de joie ;
Et pour montrer sa belle voix,
Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.
Le Renard s'en saisit, et dit : "Mon bon Monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute :
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute. "
Le Corbeau, honteux et confus,
Jura, mais un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendrait plus.


From this site: http://poesie.webnet.fr/poemes/France/lafontai/1.html

Subject: Lyr Add: LE RENARD ET LE CORBEAU / FOX & THE CROW
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 06:48 PM

Here is the version of Le Renard Et Le Corbeau that I sing.
Please forgive any spelling errors or places where my diacritical marks don't cross cyberspace intact from my 'puter to yours.


LE RENARD ET LE CORBEAU

Un jour Maître Corbeau sur un arbre perché
Tenait dedans son bec un fromage glacé.*
Le Capitain Renard, attiré par l'odeur,
L'accoste poliment par un propos flatteur.

Cho:
Sur l'air du tra la la la
Sur l'air du tra la la la,
Sur l'air du tra de re, de ra, de ra,
Tra la la!

"Mes sincères compliments, cher Monsieur Le Corbeau.
Dans cette chic habit noir, ah! que vous êtes beau!
Et si votre ramage égale vos atteur (?)**
Vous êtes le phénix de forêt d'allentour!"

Cho:

L'corbeau, ravi d'avoir un auditeur de choix,
Ouvre son large bec pour mieux montrer sa voix.
Le bon fromage, hélas!, à terre n'a fit qu'un sault!
Le renard s'en saisit et l'corbeau fût très sôt!

Cho:

Car l'autre se régale et dans un ton moqueur
Lui dit, "Maître Corbeau, gardez-vous des flatteurs!
J'ai vous joué un bon tour, et, par bleu! c'est bien faît!"
Bonjour! J'avais grand faim et l'fromage est parfaît!"

Cho:


Translation:
One day Mr. Crow, perched in a tree,
held in his beak a (glazed?) cheese.*
Captain Fox, attracted by the aroma,
approaches him politely in a flattering manner.

"My sincere compliments, dear Mr. Crow.
In that chic black suit, ah, how beautiful you are!
And if your voice equals your attire
You are the phoenix of the forests all around.

The crow, eager to have a willing audience,
Opens his big beak to show off his voice better.
The good cheese, alas, only falls (leaps) to the ground.
The fox seizes it and the crow is very upset.

For the other one gloats and in a mocking ton
Says to him, "Mr. Crow, beware of flatterers!
I played a good trick on you and, by heavens, it was done well!
Good day! I'm very hungry and the cheese is perfect.

The chorus profoundly proclaims "On the air tra la la ... etc.! LOL
-------------------------------

Genie



*"Glacé" is often translated "frozen," but I'm not sure it means that in this context. I'm thinking of a cheese with some kind of rind or frosting, maybe?
**It's supposed to be the French word for "attire," but I don't remember how to spell it, and I don't have a good French dictionary handy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 09:17 PM

[Daring to stick foot in mouth, when there are so many native French speakers about...]

Regarding "atteur":
The usual French words for attire are vêtements and costume. I also found ramure, but this mainly refers to foliage or the antlers of a stag, and is singular ("votr' ramure"); possibly it was used in the plural at the time (or in the place) that La Fontaine's fable was reworked into a song? Ramure makes a suspiciously close pairing to ramage, and rhymes with your "allentour".

English "attire" derives from Old French "atirier", "to put in order, arrange", which in turn derives from Latin "ad + tire", "toward" + "order, row, dress". So it's quite possible the word you want is "attires".

There are also the verb "attifer", "to deck out" (usually pejorative), and the noun "attirail", "gear, tools; fishing tackle; paraphernalia", but that's casting a bit far afield.

Subject: Lyr: Le Renard Et Le Corbeau (The Fox & the Crow)
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 09:40 PM

THANK you, Arthur!

That's the word: "ramure."

(I hope one of the Joe Clones can fix my post.)

It's been a long time since I've sung the song, much less actually looked at the printed lyrics. Being primarily an auditory processer and not being familiar with the word "ramure," all I could really remember was that the word meant "attire" and rhymed with "allentour" (which I'm not even sure I spelled right). I knew it wasn't "auteur" (author), but I think I was getting interference from that word and others in the song.

I had a feeling someone more fluent in French would quickly correct this mistake (any any others).   Thank you for refreshing my memory.

The line should read:
"Et si votre ramage egale votre ramure ..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 09:46 PM

Er ... I mean "Artful," not "Arthur."

Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 10:07 PM

LOL I take it any way it comes.

Subject: Lyr Add: AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER!
From: Genie
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 08:05 PM

Another good one I can't find in the forum. (Can't get the DT to open right now.)

AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER!

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser!
Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser!
Un capuchon je lui donnerais
Un capuchon je lui donnerais

   Refrain
   Danse, mon moine, danse!
   Tu n'entends pas la danse.
   Tu n'entends pas mon moulin lon la,
   Tu n'entends pas mon moulin marcher.

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser! (x2)
Un ceinturon je lui donnerais. (x2)

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser! (x2)
Un chapelet je lui donnerais. (x2)

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser! (x2)
Un froc de bur' je lui donnerais. (x2)

Ah! Si mon moine voulait danser! (x2)
Un beau psautier je lui donnerais. (x2)

S'il n'avait fait voeu de pauvreté, (x2)
Bien d'autres choses je lui donnerais. (x2)

-----------------------
Oh, if my monk would dance with me,
I'd give him a cap (hood or cowl).

Dance, my monk, dance,
You not hearing the dance.
You aren't hearing my mill over there,
You aren't hearing my mill running.

Oh, if my monk would dance with me,
I'd give him a sash,

Oh, if my monk would dance with me,
I'd give him a chain (rosary?)

Oh, if my monk would dance with me,
I'd give him a frock of ?? (DK what word's being abbreviated as "bur'")

Oh, if my monk would dance with me,
I'd give him a beautiful psaltry

If he hadn't taken the vow of poverty,
There are a lot of other things I'd give him.

---

Note from Monique:
This song is of Canadian origin. A "moine" is also a toy, a kind of spinning top, hence the play on words. In some versions instead of enumerating a monk's things, music instruments are enumerated.

Monique

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 08:45 PM

"Bure" is frieze (heavy wool cloth) or rough, homespun fabric. It can also, by itself, mean a monk's frock.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Genie
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 11:25 PM

Not to be confused with "beurre," of course.

I mean, a coat of "beurre" would NOT be an appropriate thing to offer a monk. §;-D

Thanks again, Artful.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 11:43 AM

Leslie, hello.

Le Grand Derangement occurred between 1755 and the mid 1760s. That said, do you know any phrases from the song? To complicate matters, 1755 is a group, and I'm not aware of any song entitled "1755" done by Bois Joli, but then I'm not an authority on anything, either. Without a bit more to go on, this will be extremely difficult to track.

When did you first hear it? What's the 'story line'? That said, do you know any phrases from the song?

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST,Leslie Lamont
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 08:39 AM

Thank you for the reply and the assistance with this. I have further discovered that the song is is possibly titled 'mon acadie' and is considered the unofficial Acadian anthem.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 10:09 AM

"Mr. Doiron writes in both official languages. He was voted Acadian Artist of the Year in 1997. His song lyrics are being developed by international recording artists Les Rioux, Bois Joli, Yrois Robichaud, and jazz recording artist Kim Rayworth. His 1994 song, "Mon Acadie," launched in conjunction with World Acadian Congress, has been showcased in Paris and Louisiana."

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 01:54 PM

You could contact Richard Doiron at

[e-mail]

He is the author of "Mon Acadie" and may be able to direct you to the words.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:15 AM

i need a song call quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes in lyrics please ty

Subject: Lyr Add: ALOUETTE
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:15 AM

Go to google and type

alouette, chansons

This is from the page that came up:

REFRAIN :
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai (bis)

Je te plumerai le bec (bis)
Et le bec, et le bec
Alouette, alouette, ah ah ah ah !

REFRAIN

Je te plumerai la tête (bis)
Et la tête, et la tête
Et le bec, et le bec
Alouette, alouette, ah ah ah ah !

REFRAIN

Je te plumerai le cou (bis)
Et le cou, et le cou
Et la tête, et la tête
Et le bec, et le bec
Alouette, alouette, ah ah ah ah !

REFRAIN

Je te plumerai le dos (bis)
Et le dos, et le dos
Et le cou, et le cou
Et la tête, et la tête
Et le bec, et le bec
Alouette, alouette, ah ah ah ah !

REFRAIN

Je te plumerai les fesses (bis)
Et les fesses, et les fesses
Et le dos, et le dos
Et le cou, et le cou
Et la tête, et la tête
Et le bec, et le bec
Alouette, alouette, ah ah ah ah !

REFRAIN


The other songs are alos 'easy' to find with Mr Google's help. Please try that, and if you are still having difficulty in a few hours, post here and someone will point you to 'em. Best wishes.

Subject: Lyr Add: QUAND LE SOLEIL DIT BONJOUR AUX MONTAGNES
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:17 AM

Sorry. Was reading the wrong request.

QUAND LE SOLEIL DIT BONJOUR AUX MONTAGNES
paroles: Larry Vincent
musique: Harry Peace
paroles de la version espagnole: Gildor Roy

Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes
Et que la nuit rencontre le jour
Je suis seule avec mes rêves sur la montagne
Une voix me rappelle toujours

Écoute à ma porte, les chansons du vent
Rappellent des souvenirs de toi
Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes
Je suis seule, je ne veux penser qu'à toi

paroles anglaises:
(Now) When the sun says Good Day to the mountains
And the night says Hello to the dawn
I'm alone with my dreams on the hilltop
I can still hear his voice though he's gone

I hear from my door the love songs through the wind
It brings back sweet memories of you...

paroles espagnoles:
Cuando el sol esta saludando las montañas
Y la noche encuentra el día
Estoy solo con mis sueños en la montaña
Con una voz que siempre me llamo

El echoe me llevo la canción del viento
Llena de recuerdos de ti
Cuando el sol esta saludando las montañas
Estoy solo y piensando en ti

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Alan Day
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:33 PM

I would be very grateful for the words to the lovely tune "Plasir da More" (please excuse my spelling).
Al

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:39 PM

Words in French and English here.

History and many other versions here.

Subject: Lyr Add: BONHOMME, BONHOMME
From: Cluin
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:03 PM

A call & responser my grandmother used to sing to us:

Bonhomme, bonhomme

Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Sais-tu jouer de ce tambour-là?
Sais-tu jouer de ce tambour-là?
Boum, boum, boum de ce tambour-là
Boum, boum, boum de ce tambour-là
Bonhomme! Bonhomme!
Tu n'es pas maître dans ta maison
Quand nous y sommes.

Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Sais-tu de cette flûte-là?
Sais-tu de cette flûte-là?
Flut flut flut, de cette flûte-là
Flut flut flut, de cette flûte-là
Bonhomme! Bonhomme!
Tu n'es pas maître dans ta maison
Quand nous y sommes.

Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Bonhomme, bonhomme, sais-tu jouer?
Sais-tu jouer de la guitare-là?
Sais-tu jouer de la guitare-là?
Plink, plink, plinkety guitare-là
Plink, plink, plinkety guitare-là
Bonhomme! Bonhomme!
Tu n'es pas maître dans ta maison
Quand nous y sommes.




It's essentially a house party song, asking "Good man, can you play an instrument? Well, you're not so damn great and you don't run the show around here!"   Very Quebecois.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Alan Day
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 04:06 AM

Many thanks Peace for the music and words for this lovely tune.For over thirty years I have played the concertina without using it for singing accompaniment.I may just have a go at this one.
Thank you for your quick response and message
Al

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 01:49 PM

I posted the lyrics to MON ACADIE, by Richard Doiron, here.

In general, if you're requesting lyrics, chords, etc., it's best to start a new thread, choose an appropriate prefix, and put the song title (or your best guess) in the thread title. Requests that are piggybacked onto threads about other songs are often not noticed by the people who can answer them.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 07 - 10:43 PM

I am looking for lyrics to Helen Creighton's last work "Fleur de Rose"

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 09:33 AM

Andrew Rowan Summers on his Folkways "Seeds of Love" LP recorded, back in the 50s, a (Breton, I think) song in translation he called "My Mother Chose My Husband." It's pretty well known in its Anglo version. The lyrics are in the DT.

Can anyone supply the French lyrics? I'd also be interested in details of how the song came to be translated, and how it reached Summers, a Virginian (I think) dulcimer player and singer in the Dyer-Bennett style, then living in New York.

Bob

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 09:42 AM

Since this thread is active now, I thought I'd point out that the recent thread misleadingly entitled Lyr Req: Rugby Song is actually a request for words to a naughty French song.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 17 Oct 07 - 08:17 PM

C'est le prince d'Orange,Au matin s'est levé
Est allé voir son Page, fais seller mon coursier
Que maudit soit la guerre où le roi m'a mandé

Est allé voir son page, fais seller mon coursier
mon beau prince d'Orange où voulez-vous aller?
Que maudit soit la guerre où le roi m'a mandé

je veux aller en France, où le roi m'a mandé

mis la main sur la bride, le pied dans l'étrier

je partis sain et sauf et j'en revins blessé

de trois grands coups de lance qu'un Anglais m'a donnés

la première à mon épaule et l'autre à mon côté

La troisième à la mamelle, l'on dit que j'en mourrai

le beau prince d'Orange est mort et enterré

l'ai vu porter en terre par quatre cordeliers

Malicorne did a great version of this one. Amazing harmonies!

Also really good was the 'tristes noces, but it's as long as a very long child ballad, so I thought I'd leave that one out

Subject: Lyr Add: UN CANADIEN ERRANT
From: topical tom
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 03:16 PM

UN CANADIEN ERRANT (years back the only French-Canadian song that Pete Seeger could sing, so he said)

Un canadien errant, banni de ses foyers (2x)
Parcourait en pleurant des pays étrangers (2x)
Un jour triste et pensif, assis au bord du flot (2x)
Au courant fugitif il adressa ces mots (2x)
Si tu vois mon pays, mon pays malheureux (2x)
Va dire à mes amis que je me souviens d'eux (2x)

As you can see, one singer sings the line and others then repeat it thus teaching the song as it is sung. The melody is mournful, longing but beautiful. Should you wish a translation, please let me know.

Subject: Lyr Add: PERRINE ETAIT SERVANTE
From: Amos
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 04:09 PM

One for the DT, learned from a gang of Breton fishing boys in the summer of ~ 1964.

Perrine Était Servante

Perrine était servante
Perrine était servante
Chez monsieur notr' curé
Diga-doma-dohn-daine
Chez monsieur notr' curé
Diga-doma-dohn dai!

Son amant vint la voire,
Un soir après souper

Perrine, ma Perrine,
Je voudrais bien te biser

Oh, grand nigaud, qu' t'es bête
Ça se fait sans se demander!

Voilà M. le Curé qui arrive!
Où je vais t'y bien me cacher?

Cache-toi dedans la huche!
Il ne saurait point t'y trouver!

Il y resta six semaines
On l'avait oublié!

Au bout des six semaines
Les rats l'avaient bouffé

On fit creuser son crâne
Pour faire un bénitier

On fit monter ses jambes
Pour faire un chandelier!

A very sad tale of an amorous young man who was interrupted in courting the Cure's servant girl by the return of the Cure, and was hidden in the bread-cupboard where he was forgotten for six weeks, by which time the rats had eaten him up. They made a holy water bowl from his skull and a chandelier from his leg bones.

A

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 04:34 PM

Un Canadien Errant in Digitrad.

Subject: Lyr Add: LE CURE DE ST FERDINAND
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 20 Oct 07 - 08:12 PM

The McGarrigle Sisters recorded a dandy version of Perrine Etait Servante.

Anyway, here's a naughty chanson a repondre which might be the one requested in another thread. I'll post it here where it belongs and link to it from the other place. I'm not sure about the word "pignouf". It's the only one I can find in the dictionary which seems to fit the context.



LE CURÉ DE ST FERDINAND

Ecoutez l'histoire de ce bon vieux pignouf
Pignouf curé de St. Ferdinand
        Pignouf cu etc.

Monsieur le curé descend à la rivière
Au bord d'elle il passe bien son temps
        Au bord d'elle etc.

Monsieur le curé aime une jolie bergère
Pour son troupeau de jolis moutons
        Pour son trou etc.

Monsieur le curé aime aussi les Anglaises
Pour leurs singularités charmantes
        Pour leurs sin etc.

Monsieur le curé préfère sa cuisinière
Pour ses festins de Gargantua
        Pour ses fes etc.

(Traditional? From an uncredited part of track 13 on the CD "Quand la pluie viendra" by La Raquette a Claquettes)

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST,Monique
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 06:13 PM

Un pignouf is a ill-mannered, coarse / rude person. It's usually translated by "peasant"

If you want traditional French songs, you'll want to google "thierry klein" (lyrics, midis, sheet music), "rassat" (lyrics, midis, sheet music), "medietrad" (only lyrics), Mama Lisa's World France page -kids songs- (lyrics, midis, mp3, sheet music and English translations)

Subject: Index: French folk song lyrics/ Mediatrad
From: Genie
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 11:02 PM

"Un Canadien Errant" is set to the tune of a traditional French folk song, "Si Tu Te Mets Anguille" ("If You Became An Eel").   It's one of those playful love songs where the singer says, "If you did X, then I'd do Y" (e.g., "If you became an eel, I'd be a fisherman and catch you,") and the next verse takes the hypothetical chase on from there.

I have the lyrics in a trad. French songbook, but I don't know where it is.   

I did find many references to it on line but no lyrics.

But I found this site, with lyrics and MP3s of many trad French folk songs, including:

Mediatrad.com

À bicyclette À la volette À Limerzel À Paris sur le petit pont À Paris, y'a une vieille Adieu, cher camarade Ah oui vraiment j'aimerai mieux... Ah! la feuille s'envole... Ah! Si mon moine Aimons le vin… Amis, buvons... Au chant de l'alouette Au pays de Lérida... Au trente-et-un du mois d'août Auprès de ma blonde... Aux marches du palais Belle Cassandre Bonsoir le maitre de maison Branle lon la la bouteille Brassons bien partout carré Brave marin Buvons tous à pleins verres C'est dans 10 ans, je m'en irai... C'est entre nous mes jeunes filles C'est la fille à la meunière C'est un picard... C'était Anne de Bretagne c'était une pauvre vieille... Cadet Rousselle Ce sont les gars de Senneville Chanj tu Chanteurs de Sornettes Chantons pour passer le temps Chevaliers de la table ronde Comment vouloir... Compagnons qui roulez en Provence Comprenez-vous? Corps mort Coucher tard, levé matin... C'était un moine C'était un p'tit bonhomme Dame Lombarde Déjà mal mariée Derrière chez moi savez-vous ce qu'y a ? Dessous le rosier blanc... Dondaine la ridaine Embarquons-nous, le temps est doux En passant la rivière... En passant par la Lorraine En passant par la Lorraine (2) Flamande allemande Fristes à l'huile Gentil coquelicot Guerre, guerre... Hélas pourquoi.... Hourra, les filles... Il était un petit navire Il pleut, il pleut, bergère (ou L'Orage) Il y a trois garçons... J'ai fait un rêve J'aurai le vin... J'entends le loup, le renard et la belette J'entends le moulin Je m'suis fais faire, un p'tit moulin... Je me roule Je me suis fait habiller de plumes Je n'ai plus que 10 ans à rouler ma jeunesse... Je ne veux pas... Je ne veux plus boire Je regrette non de non ! Je veux veux un boulanger, maman.... Je voudrais être mariée Jean de Nivelle Jean Renaud a un pommier Jean-François de Nantes Joli cœur de rose Joli mois de mai J'ai 10 pelotons de lin J'ai 10 sous dans ma poche J'ai une méchante mère J'aime bien la bouteille J'aime la voir à rire J'aimons les filles

L'anguille L'écolier assassin L'ivrogne et le pénitent La barrique la belle ennuitée La belle est au jardin d'amour La belle lisette La Belle Marion La blanche biche La blanche biche (2) La caille La carmagnole La chanson de Craonne La complainte de Mandrin La conduite La femme du président d'Bordeaux La fille au cresson La fille au roi Louis La fille aux chansons La fille d'un labouroux La fille du coupeur de paille la fleur de lys (le roi eugène) La fleur du genêt La grand-mère La jambe me fait mal La jambe me fait mal La légende de Saint-Nicolas La mode en est devenue nouvelle La palombe La part à Dieu La partance La perdriole (2) La Pernette La petite hirondelle La poule à Colin La rose au boué La surveille de mes noces La Tempete La vieille fille La vierge à la fontaine Là-haut sur ces montagnes Laisser faire Landry Le beau Robert Le bouvier Le capitaine de Saint-Malo Le chant des livrées Le conseil de guerre Le galant indiscret Le grand valet Le Guignolot de Saint Lazot Le guilanné Le jardinier du couvent Le mal de dent Le marchand de velours Le mariage anglais Le matin, au point du jour Le papillon Le petit marcelot Le pont de Morlaix Le premier jour de mai (la perdriole) Le prince d'Orange Le roi a fait battre tambour Le roy Louis Le tailleur de pierre Le Tourdion Les 180 pucelles Les dames de Rouen Les Dolois Les fendeurs Les filles de Lorient Les Filles des Forges Les filles sont volages Les gorets Les jambes en l'air Les rôtis au lard Les tristes noces Les trois sœurs

M'en va à la fontaine Ma brunette vogue vogue... Ma dong dong diguedong Ma jument Hypoline Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre, Malheureuse vient Mariez vous la belle! Marions les roses Mes souliers sont rouges... Mon père a fait planter un bois Mon père veut me marier Ne pleure pas, Jeannette Nous irons en Flandres Nous irons en violon... O Ma délire On dit que j'ai pas d'amoureux... Papillon volage Pas moyen ! Pelot d'Hennebont Perrine était servante Pierre de Grenoble Prends garde au loup, Bergère! P'tit Bonhomme Quand j'étais fille à marier Quand j'étais jeune à dix-huit ans Quand je menais mes chevaux boire... Quand je suis parti d'La Rochelle... Que la barbe m'en fume! Que venez-vous chercher... Quel dommage, Martin! Questembert Qui veut chasser une migraine (Chanson à boire) Réveillez vous picards... Rossignolet du bois Rue Saint Vincent Saint-Martin D'Auray Salut à la compagnie Sans soucis Se Canto Sont les gars de St Pierre... Sur la montagne du loup... Sur le bout du banc... Sur le pont de Nantes Sur les quais du Havre... Tant d'amants qui se font l'amour... Tenez la belle voilà la rose Tout en montant la place d'arme... Trinquons et buvons ... Trois jeunes tambours Trois jolis mineurs Trois marins de Groix Trois matelot du port de Dieppe Un beau matin à la fraîche Un épi de blé V'là l'bon vent Va mon ami va , la lune se lève Vaut bien mieux moins d'argent... Vigni, vignons... Viv' l'amourette en bargenton Vive la rose et le lilas Vive les marins, beau marinier Voici la St Jean Voilà le branle... Y'a pas d'amour sans peine Zimbalazim boum boum

Subject: Lyr Add: LES METAMORPHOSES
From: Genie
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 11:17 PM

Un Canadien Errant - lyrics and history (en Français)

The song "Si Tu Te Mets Anguille" begins:

Si tu te mets anguille, (If you became an eel)
Anguille dans l'etang, (An eel in a pond)
Je me mettrai pecheur, (I'd become a fisherman)
...    (And I'd catch you)

And other lyrics similar to these:

"... Je me mettrai pecheure pour te pcher. Je pecherai le cceure d'ma bien-aime'.

Chansons populaires

---

Les métamorphoses (La chanson des métamorphoses) (click to play)

note: Duo homme et femme, alternant chacun un couplet. C'est l'homme qui débute. Il y a de multiples versions de ce chant traditionnel, avec différents titres ("Je me suis fait une blonde", "Si tu te mets anguille", "J'ai fait une maîtresse)"


J'avais une maîtresse il n'y a pas longtemps (bis)
j'irai la voir dimanche, dimanche j'irai
demander la main de ma bien-aimée.

Si tu t'en viens dimanche, n'y serai pas
Par derrière chez ma tante
Il y a-t-un étang
Je me mettrai anguille,
Anguille dans l'étang
de moi tu n'auras pas de contentement

Si tu te mets anguille, anguille dans l'étang (bis)
Je me mettrai pêcheur
pêchant dans l'étang
Je t'aurai en pêchant.

Si tu te mets pêcheur pour m'avoir en pêchant (bis)
Je me mettrai alouette
Alouette des champs
de moi tu n'auras pas de contentement !

Si tu te mets alouette, alouette dans les champs (bis)
Je me mettrai chasseur
chassant dans les champs
Je t'aurai en chassant

Si tu te mets chasseur pour m'avoir en chassant (bis)
Je me mettrai nonette
Nonette dans un couvent.
de moi tu n'auras pas de contentement !

Si tu te mets nonette, nonette dans un couvent (bis)
Je me mettrai prêcheur
prêchant en couvent
Je t'aurai en prêchant

Si tu te mets prêcheur pour m'avoir en prêchant (bis)
Je me donn'rai à toi
Puisque tu m'aimes tant. (bis)


========
Re the older song, which UCE is set to, here is a link to an album of French folk songs:

Si Tu Te Mets Anguille - and other songs sung by Hélène Baillargeon - Édition Anniversaire

1. Où vas-tu mon petit garçon?
2. Si tu te mets anguille
3. C'est la belle Françoise
4. Mon père n'avait fille que moi
5. M'sieur le Curé
6. Mariez-moi ma petite maman
7. J'ai une brune
8. J't'aimerais mieux mon mari
9. La plume qui s'envole
10. La laine de nos moutons
11. Chanson de foulon
12. I Went To The Market
13. Vive la canadienne
14. La perdriole

Plus 14 autres titres

"Hélène Baillargeon est née le 28 août 1916, à Saint-Martin-de-Beauce.
C'est d'abord au sein d'une famille beauceronne qu'elle développe le goût de chanter : elle y puisera un répertoire aussi vaste que coloré, répertoire qu'elle ne cessera d'agrandir puis de transmettre, et enfin de faire connaître un peu partout dans le monde.

Récitals, disques, tournées, recueils de chansons, émissions de radio et de télévision sont autant d'outils qu'Hélène Baillargeon a su manier avec art pour vivifier la tradition chantée de langue française, et nous la faire aimer"

=========================================

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: GUEST,Jeune Buchan!
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 06:31 AM

As-tu connu le Père Lancelot? Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye fare thee well.
As-tu connu le Père Lancelot? Goodbye, fare thee well, we're homeward bound.

Il mange la viande, à toi les os.

Il boit du vin, à toi de l'eau.

Et si tu grumes, il te jette à l'eau

Il a trois filles qui font la peau.

Sorry, can't do the accents on this machine - and my French is none too good anyway!

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: LeTenebreux
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 09:45 AM

The thing I find really interesting about French songs is that they pronounce the "e"s at the end of words, which are silent under normal circumstances.
I guess it's analogous to the way we turn one syllable into two or more syllables when singing in English.

Subject: RE: lyrics request for french folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:00 PM

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misere
Les soldats seront troubadours
Mais nous, nous serons morts, mon frere...

Subject: Lyr Add: QUAND LES HOMMES VIVRONT D'AMOUR
From: GUEST,Monique
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 07:07 AM

It's true that silent "e"s are sung while they're not pronounced in standard French but they actually are pronounced when speaking in all the Southern part of France (= some millions of people)


"Quand les hommes vivront d'amour" is no folk song, it was written by Quebequese Raymond Lévesque in 1955/56 (?)

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Et commenceront les beaux jours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Ce sera la paix sur la Terre
Les soldats seront troubadours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère

Dans la grande chaîne de la vie
Où il fallait que nous passions
Où il fallait que nous soyons
Nous aurons eu la mauvaise partie

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Peut-être song'ront-ils un jour
A nous qui serons morts mon frère

Mais quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Qu'il n'y aura plus de misère
Peut-être song'ront-ils un jour
A nous qui serons morts mon frère

Nous qui aurons aux mauvais jours
Dans la haine et puis dans la guerre
Cherché la paix, cherché l'amour
Qu'ils connaîtront alors mon frère

Dans la grand' chaîne de la vie
Pour qu'il y ait un meilleur temps
Il faut toujours quelques perdants
De la sagesse ici-bas c'est le prix

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Il n'y aura plus de misère
Et commenceront les beaux jours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère

Quand les hommes vivront d'amour
Ce sera la paix sur la terre
Les soldats seront troubadours
Mais nous, nous serons morts mon frère

Subject: Lyr Add: LES LACS DE CONNEMARA
From: Colin Randall
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 09:27 AM

Peut-etre trop "pop" ......but I cannot get Michel Sardou's Les Lacs de Connemara out of my head. I have seen French people do it at karaoke, but then plenty of them also regard Sardou as a folk singer. Very anti-England and one or two of the lines would sound fairly grim if sung in English but I'd argue that Song for Ireland, widely considered a good song, has a couple of low moments.


Terre brûlée au vent
Des landes de pierre,
Autour des lacs,
C'est pour les vivants
Un peu d'enfer,
Le Connemara.

Des nuages noirs
Qui viennent du nord
Colorent la terre,
Les lacs, les rivières :
C'est le décor
Du Connemara.

Au printemps suivant,
Le ciel irlandais
Etait en paix.
Maureen a plongé
Nue dans un lac
Du Connemara.

Sean Kelly s'est dit :
"Je suis catholique.
Maureen aussi."
L'église en granit
De Limerick,
Maureen a dit "oui".

De Tiperrary
Bally-Connelly
Et de Galway,
Ils sont arrivés
Dans le comté
Du Connemara.

Y avait les Connor,
Les O'Conolly,
Les Flaherty
Du Ring of Kerry
Et de quoi boire
Trois jours et deux nuits.

Là-bas, au Connemara,
On sait tout le prix du silence.
Là-bas, au Connemara,
On dit que la vie
C'est une folie
Et que la folie,
Ça se danse.

Terre brûlée au vent
Des landes de pierre,
Autour des lacs,
C'est pour les vivants
Un peu d'enfer,
Le Connemara.

Des nuages noirs
Qui viennent du nord
Colorent la terre,
Les lacs, les rivières :
C'est le décor
Du Connemara.

On y vit encore
Au temps des Gaels
Et de Cromwell,
Au rythme des pluies
Et du soleil,
Au pas des chevaux.

On y croit encore
Aux monstres des lacs
Qu'on voit nager
Certains soirs d'été
Et replonger
Pour l'éternité.

On y voit encore
Des hommes d'ailleurs
Venus chercher
Le repos de l'âme
Et pour le cœur,
Un goût de meilleur.

L'on y croit encore
Que le jour viendra,
Il est tout près,
Où les Irlandais
Feront la paix
Autour de la croix.

Là-bas, au Connemara,
On sait tout le prix de la guerre.
Là-bas, au Connemara,
On n'accepte pas
La paix des Gallois
Ni celle des rois d'Angleterre...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 08 - 02:05 AM

Monique sent a MIDI and background notes for "Aux marches du Palais" - see above for lyrics and notes.

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 08 - 02:22 PM

Another from Monique:
Here is the midi for the shanty "Le 31 du mois d'août." According to Jean-Claude Klein (Florilège de la chanson française- Bordas) this song would be one of the many that would tell Surcouf's feats of arms against the British ships in the 19th century. The line "À la santé du roi de France" (to the King of France's health) would indicate that the song was written after Napoleon's Empire.

---

Click to play

---

Also: AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER!
This song is of Canadian origin. A "moine" is also a toy, a kind of spinning top, hence the play on words. In some versions instead of enumerating a monk's things, music instruments are enumerated.

Monique

---

Click to play (AH! SI MON MOINE VOULAIT DANSER!)

---

Les métamorphoses (La chanson des métamorphoses) (click to play)

Subject: Lyr Add: PERRINE ÉTAIT SERVANTE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 08 - 05:17 PM

Another message and MIDI from Monique

While I still remember about it: here is a site http://epinette.free.fr/midi/repertoirdavenson.php with the midis to all the songs from Davenson's book.

Here is the version I have on different books (and the way I learned it) with accents and all. It has two more verses than Amos' version at the end.
On the second verse, the spelling "vouère" reflects the old pronounciation of the "oi" spelling now pronounced [wa] though the aperture of the [a] varies from a wide open "a" in the South to a rather closed "é" in some parts of France and tends to "o" in other parts. So it's no real clue to trace it back but it's said to be from the 19th century. The "ti" (2nd, 5th verse) is a popular particle added after the verb in questions (J'y vas-ti, j'y vas-ti pas?) in some areas. The conjugation "je vas" (5th verse) is also popular (standard "je vais") , so is saying "i" instead of "il" before consonant (i' saura pas t' trouver), 9th verse: the "z" (z'avaient rongé...) is what remains from the original liaison "ils_avaient"
This song originates in Western France, different variants have been collected from Poitou to High Britanny.
The song as we know it now has been popularized by Les Compagnons de la Chanson (1946) is quite recent.
And last but not least, here is a YouTube video Perrine était servante by Les Compagnons de la Chanson.


PERRINE ÉTAIT SERVANTE

Perrine était servante,
Perrine était servante
Chez Monsieur le Curé, digue don da dondaine
Chez Monsieur le Curé, digue don da dondé !

Son amant vint la vouère (voir)
Un soir après l' dîner...

Perrine, ô ma Perrine
J' voudrais-ti bien t' biser

Oh ! grand nigaud qu' t'es bête
Ça s' prend sans s' demander !...

V' là M'sieur l' curé qu'arrive
Où j' vas-ti bien t' cacher ? ...

Cache-té dedans la huche ! (Cache-té = Cache-toi)
I' saura pas t' trouver ! ...

Il y resta six s'maines
Elle l'avait oublié ! ...

Au bout de six semaines
Les rats l'avaient bouffé ! ...

Z' avaient rongé son crâne
Et puis tous ses doigts de pied ...

On fit creuser son crâne
Pour faire un bénitier...

On fit monter ses jambes
Pour faire un chandelier...

Voilà la triste histoire
D'un jeune homme à marier...

Qu'allait trop voir les filles
Le soir après l'dîner ! ...

---

Click to play (Perrine était servante)

Subject: ADD: Magali
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 08 - 01:57 PM

Another from Monique:

Les métamorphoses ="Si tu te mets anguille" or "Si tu te fais la rose" and such: it seems that the song originates in Brittany from where it spread all over France and it crossed the Atlantic to Canada ("Par derrière chez ma tante...")
According to this site Provençal poet Frédéric Mistral took his inspiration from the song "Belo Margarideto" (Fr. "O belle Marguerite) to write the song "Magali" in the 3rd chant of "Mireio". The tune is a popular one. The French translation you'll find on this site is Mistral's own literal translation.
The spelling is what we call "Mistral (or Roumanille) spelling" (spelling based on the French spelling), only used by some authors from Provence nowadays. All the other Occitan authors now use the "classic (or Alibert's) spelling" based on the troubadours' one.
A short singable version can be found there as well as other French traditional (popular) songs.
As you will easily guess, my English translation is quite literal!

MAGALI O Magali ma tant amado Mete la tèsto au fenestroun ! Escouto un pau aquesto aubado De tambourin e de vióuloun. - Es plen d'estello, aperamount ! L'auro es toumbado, Mai lis estello paliran, Quand te veiran ! - Pas mai que dóu murmur di broundo, De toun aubado iéu fau cas ! Mai iéu m'en vau dins la mar bloundo Me faire anguielo de roucas. - O Magali ! se tu te fas Lou pèis de l'oundo, Iéu, lou pescaire me farai, Te pescarai! - Oh ! mai, se tu te fas pescaire, Ti vertoulet quand jitaras, Iéu me farai l'aucèu voulaire, M'envoularai dins li campas. - O Magali, se tu te fas L'aucèu de l'aire, Iéu lou cassaire me farai, Te cassarai. - I perdigau, i bouscarido Se vènes, tu, cala ti las, Iéu me farai l'erbo flourido E m'escoundrai dins li pradas - O Magali, se tu te fas La margarido, Iéu l'aigo lindo me farai T'arrousarai. - Se tu te fas l'eigueto lindo Iéu me farai lou nivoulas E lèu m'enanarai ansindo A l'Americo, perabas ! - O Magali, se tu t'envas Alin in Indo, L'auro de mar iéu me farai, Te pourtarai! - Se tu te fas la marinado, Iéu fugirai d'un autre las : Iéu me farai l'escandihado Dóu grand soulèu que found lou glas ! - O Magali, se tu te fas La souleiado, Lou verd limbert iéu me farai, E te béurai ! - Se tu te rèndes l'alabreno Que se rescound dins lou bartas, Iéu me rendrai la luno pleno Que dins la niue fai lume i masc ! - O Magali, se tu te fas Luno sereno, Iéu bello nèblo me farai, T'acatarai. - Mai se la nèblo m'enmantello Tu, pèr acò, noun me tendras ; Iéu, bello roso vierginello, M'espandirai dins l'espinas! - O Magali, se tu te fas La roso bello, Lou parpaioun iéu me farai, Te beisarai. - Vai, calignaire, courre, courre ! Jamai, jamai m'agantaras. Iéu, de la rusco d'un grand roure Me vestirai dins lou bouscas. - O Magali, se tu te fas L'aubre di mourre, Iéu lou clot d'èurre me farai T'embrassarai ! - Se me vos prene à la brasseto, Rèn qu'un vièi chaine arraparas... Iéu me farai blanco moungeto Dóu mounastié dóu grans Sant Blas ! - O Magali, se tu te fas Mounjo blanqueto, Iéu, capelan, counfessarai, E t'ausirai ! - Se dóu couvènt passes li porto, Tóuti li mounjo trouvaras Qu'à moun entour saran pèr orto, Car en susàri me veiras ! - O Magali, se tu te fas La pauro morto, Adounc la terro me farai Aqui t'aurai ! - Aro coumence enfin de crèire Que noun me parles en risènt : Vaqui moun aneloun de vèire Pèr souvenènço, o bèu jouvènt ! - O Magali me fas de bèn ! ... Mai, tre te veire, Ve lis estello, o Magali, Coume an pali !

MAGALI O Magali my beloved (my so much loved) Show your head at the window! Listen to this dawn serenade Of tambourines and violins! It's full of stars up there The wind has fallen But the stars will turn pale When they see you! No more than of the whisper of the foliage I won't care of your dawn serenade! But I'm going in the fair sea To become an eel in the rocks. O Magali ! if you become A fish in the sea I will become a fisher I will fish you! Oh, but if you become a fisher When you throw your creel I'll become a flying bird I will fly in the fields! O Magali, if you become A bird in the air I will become a hunter I will hunt you! To the partridges, to the warblers, If you come to set your traps I will become the blooming grass And I will hide in the wide meadows! O Magali, if you become A daisy I will become nice water I will water you! If you become the nice water I will become a big cloud And thus I'll soon go To America, far away! O Magali, if you leave To the far India I will become the sea wind I will carry you! If you become the sea wind I'll run away to another side I will become the radiance Of the big sun that melts the ice ! O Magali if you become The sunshine I will become a green lizard And I'll drink you! If you become a lizard That hides in the bush I will become the full moon That, in the night, brings light to the witches! O Magali, if you become The quiet moon I will become a nice mist I will hide you! Even if the mist wraps me up You won't hold me thus As a virgin beautiful rose I will blossom in the thorn bush! O Magali if you become A beautiful rose I will become a butterfly I will kiss you! Go, lover, run, run You will never, never catch me I will, with the bark of a big oak tree, Dress myself in the wood! O Magali, if you become A tree on the hills I will become an ivy plant I'll embrace you! If you take me in your arms You'll only hold an old oak tree I will be come a white nun Of the great St Belasius monastery! O Magali, if you become A white nun I, as a priest, will confess you I will hear you! If you go through the convent doors You'll find all the nuns Who will be around me in the garden For you'll see me in my shroud! O Magali, if you become A poor dead Then, I will become the earth There, I'll have you! Now I begin to believe That you speak seriously Here's my glass ring As a souvenir, o nice young man! O Magali, you do me good But, as soon as they saw you Look at the stars, o Magali, How they turned pale!

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 08 - 02:21 PM

First love song I've ever seen that refers to lizards...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 03 May 08 - 03:56 PM

Well, if you associate air/wind with birds, sea with fish, rain with flowers, then if you try to figure out what "lives" in the sun, you'd think of lizards. At least we'd do because lizards stay in the sun for long and there are quite a lot in Summer though they are the small grey ones (called "Good God's keys" in some areas, don't ask me why). These last decades we seldom see the big green ones he's talking about (pollution). Besides, French has a verb based on "lizard", "lézarder", which means remaining in the sun for a long time and doing nothing. So lizards might not be associated with love but they are to Provence and Summer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 09:29 PM

Le curé de St Ferdinand...Bob the Postman 's post from 20 Oct 07 - 08:12 PM : I'm afraid I hadn't read the post with much attention. It's not "pignouf", it's Pinot or Pinaud

Ecoutez l'histoire de ce bon vieux Pinot
Pinot curé de St. Ferdinand
Pinot cu- etc.

There are some spicier verses to this song...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Santa
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 05:04 AM

Here's a question that should stretch Mudcatters.

At Fylde, Strawhead sang "Admiral Benbow" (well, try stopping them!). Greg said that there were two songs about the admiral in English, but there might be rather more, with more bouncy tunes, in French.

Joke, OK, but are there any French sea songs commemorating this battle?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,Nia
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 03:36 AM

Does anyone have the french lyrics / english translation to a little french shildren's song starting
un deux trois cache-toi
quatre cinq six .......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 11:06 AM

You have them on a pdf document here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 02:44 AM

When my mother ran a French restaurant, Chez Cléo, in Kensington in the 1950s, much singing was done there — much of it, obviously, in French. As well as my own songs, I would often sing with her French staff girls, and learned many songs from them - among them 'Jeanneton prend sa faucille' & 'Chevaliers de la Table Ronde', already mentioned above. I am not sure if the following two, which I don't think have been noted yet, are folksongs or not, but they are fun to sing anyway. {If either has appeared above & I missed it & am repeating, apologies}.

Boire un petit coup, c'est agréable,
Boire un petit coup, c'est doux;
Mais il ne faut pas rouler dessous la table;
[repeat lines 1-2]

Non, Gaston, tu n'auras pas ma rose.
Non, Gaston, tu n'auras pas.
M le Curé a défendu la chose
[repeat lines 1-2]

Repeat verse 1
.,.,.,

Chez le boulanger, chez le boulanger,
Fais-moi crédit, fais-moi crédit;
Je n'ai pas d'argent, je n'ai pas d'argent,
Je payerai samedi, je payerai samedi.
Si tu ne veux pas, si tu ne veux pas
Me donner du pain, me donner du pain,
Je te fous la tête, je te fous la tête
Dans ton pétrin, dans ton pétrin!

Chorus: Je cherche fortune autour du Chat Noir
                Au clair de la lune à Montmartre le soir.

(And so on, thru various tradesmen, appropriate items for which credit is requested, & threats of where to shove his head if not forthcoming... — we would usually finish up where we were: 'Chez Mme Cléo ... donner du poulet ... dans ton pâté' [or 'ton cendrier'] ...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jan 10 - 04:05 AM

Of course there is always the old French nursery rhyme about thowing felines down a well.

Un, deux, trois, cats sank...

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: Boire un petit coup
From: Artful Codger
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 01:21 AM

"Boire un petit coup, c'est agréable":
The words are by Valbonne and the music by F. Boyer; probably a cabaret song. It has a refrain beginning "Un petit coup", and at least two other verses (in my cursory surfing, I found five). For copyright reasons, I won't post additional lyrics, but they're easily found on the net, and YouTube has quite a few clips.

Subject: RE: Je cherche fortune / Chez le boulanger
From: Artful Codger
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 01:59 AM

Je cherche fortune (Chez le boulanger)
This song was written originally by Aristide Bruant, who joined the cabaret "Le Chat Noir" in 1884. That year he wrote a song "La Ballade du Chat Noir" which became a theme song of sorts for the cabaret. They published it in their weekly paper on 2 August 1884.

Over time, the song picked up numerous verses and evolved into its rather baudier modern form, mostly known as "Je cherche fortune".

This is the beginning of the original song:

La Ballade du Chat Noir
by Aristide Bruant, 1884.

La lune était séreine,
Quand, sur le boulevard,
Je vis poindre Sosthène
Qui me dit: Cher Oscar!
D'où viens-tu? vieille branche,
Moi, je lui répondis:
C'est aujourd'hui dimanche,
Et c'est demain lundi...

(Refrain)
Je cherche fortune
Autour du Chat Noir,
Au clair de la lune,
Á Montmartre!
Je cherche fortune
Autour du Chat Noir,
Au clair de la lune,
Á Montmartre le soir!

The song goes on to describe a scrape with the police, after which the narrator spends a night in jail.

The cabaret was quite famous. Verlaine and Baudelaire were not only regular patrons, but wrote verse for the weekly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:02 AM

Many thanks Codger for these clarifications and additions. Aristide Bruant was of course also subject of Toulsouse-Lautrec's famous 1890s series of posters of Aristide Bruant Dans Son Cabaret - which cabaret was, indeed, Le Chat Noir of the song: which, as pointed out, got much folk-processed into the version I give above, & others.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:19 AM

Lyrics to "Boire un petit coup, c'est agréable".
Some additional verses to "Je cherche fortune", there are many versions that can be found online.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:38 AM

Btw, about Genie's notes/questions on her 17 Jan 06-06:48 PM post, the word she was looking for is "atours" -the Fr/Eng dictionary gives "finery" as a translation. The word is always in plural and used in literature, you seldom hear it in real life unless you'd want to tease someone "Oh, tu as mis tous tes atours aujourd'hui! Tu as rendez-vous avec quelqu'un?" (Oh, you put all your finery/jewels on today! Do you have a date?"

"Un fromage glacé" was the 18th century word for molded ice-cream.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 04:41 AM

Et merci, Monique. Some of my mother's girls, naughty little madams, in the verse

Non Julien tu n'auras ma rose
Non Julien tu n'auras rien,
Monsieur le Curé a défendu la chose...

would sing the line as 'M le Curé a déjà fait la chose'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:05 AM

Lol! It reminds me of our Occitan most famous bawdy song "Riu chiu chiu" (not to be confused with "Riu riu chiu") that tells the story of a guy (Riu chiu chiu) going to harvest his wheat. Her wife's supposed to bring him his lunch but she doesn't so he goes back home and he finds her with the priest "on top of her" (sic) who tells him that he's confessing her, that she sinned and will pay for it. After 36 weeks the baby was born and on Sunday at mass he cried out "Daddy!"
I think that this French bawdy priests thing in songs was mentioned in another thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:33 AM

I believe this may be the thread you were referring to, with the priest discussion prompted by your posting of "It était une bergère" and "Les filles des forges" (followed by "Le curé de Pomponne").

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 07:01 AM

Yes, it's that one. I've just read that I'd already mentioned the Riu chiu chiu song at the bottom of "Le curé de Pomponne" lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 05:41 PM

Btw, about Genie's notes/questions on her 17 Jan 06-06:48 PM post, the word she was looking for is "atours" -the Fr/Eng dictionary gives "finery" as a translation. The word is always in plural and used in literature, you seldom hear it in real life unless you'd want to tease someone "Oh, tu as mis tous tes atours aujourd'hui! Tu as rendez-vous avec quelqu'un?" (Oh, you put all your finery/jewels on today! Do you have a date?"

"Un fromage glacé" was the 18th century word for molded ice-cream.

Merci, Monique.

Having originally learned the words to "Le Corbeau Et Le Reynard" from a book, I was sure the line was "Et si votre ramage egale vos atour" or something very close to that spelling & I knew it was supposed to mean "If your voice is as fine as your dress." And I've been puzzling about that "frozen cheese" all along.   Ice-cream makes sense - except that I don't think it existed in Aesop's day.    Could the reference be to a dessert like a frozen cheesecake?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 07:05 PM

La Fontaine (1621-1695) re-wrote Aesop's fables. On this page and the top of the next one they posted a few lines from "Les Refrains de la rue de 1830 à 1870" by Henri Gourdon de Genouillac, 1879, who wrote in his book that a Paris lawyer imagined to turn La Fontaine's "Le corbeau et le renard" into a song to entertain his children. It's the 18th century "fun" version you sing, so ice-cream makes sense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 10:56 PM

Well, I understood that ice cream was an early 19th C. "invention," but I can imagine a children's book written in the 19th C. using that image (though crows are probably more fond of cheese or cheesecake than of ice cream). ; )

As for my last post, folks, sorry if it's really confusing. I meant to post Monique's comments temporarily while I typed my reply, but I forgot to delete them.

The part up to the "Merci, Monique" is from an earlier post by Monique.   The part that follows is my reply.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,Lynn
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 02:51 PM

I vaguely remember a funny song about a girl named Marie-Madeleine. It's not the Marie-Madeleine song mentioned above by Artful Dodger (Marie-Madeleine verse 1. Mon père n'avait fille que moi/Encore sur la mer il m'envoie).

This song was an add-on song, and each verse described a different feature of Marie Madeleine's rather unattractive appearance. Example "Marie Madeleine a une dent cement" or "Marie Madeleine a une oreille en bois".

I think the verses goes sort of like this:
The leader sings the first line "Marie Madeleine a une dent cement."
The rest of the group calls out in a surprised way "une dent cement???"
The leader sings "Une dent cement!!"

There may be something else before the refrain.

When you start a new verse, I think you add on all the other descriptions. So the song gets longer and longer as you add more verses.

I remember the tune and the rhythm for those of you who know solfege. It's in 3/8 or 6/8 meter. The first 8th note is a pick-up to the next bar.

(low)sol doh-doh-doh doh-doh-doh   re(qtr note) re(8th) low sol (qtr)
       Ma - rie-Mad-e- leine a   une       dent             ce-ment___


and the refrain is this:


mi-re-mi   high sol(dotted qtr)    re(qtr)    mi(8th)    doh (dotted qtr)
mi-re-mi   high sol(dotted qtr)    re(qtr)    mi(8th)    doh (dotted qtr)

The refrain words could possibly be (though it doesn't make sense)
Pied mirinton Madeleine
Peid mirinton Madeleine

Does anyone remember this song? I remember learning it either on a French exchange trip to Trois-Riviere (in the 1990's), or else when I worked in Ottawa playing in the Band of the Ceremonial Guard (in the 1990's). (Both things were a LONG time ago, so the words may be way off, but I'm quite sure of the tune and rhythm.)

Subject: RE: Un Pied Mariton
From: GUEST,Lynn
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 03:02 PM

Never mind - I finally found it - It's called "Un Pied Mariton"

http://home.ca.inter.net/~yvondian/pidmarit.htm

Marie-Madelaine a une jambe de bois
Une jambe de bois
Un pied mariton


REFRAIN:
Un pied mariton Madelaine
Un pied mariton Madelon


Marie-Madelaine a une cuisse de v'lours
Une cuisse de v'lours
Une jambe de bois
Un pied mariton
Refrain


Marie-Madelaine a un ventre d'acier
Un ventre d'acier
Un cou en tuyau
Une gueule de bois
Une dent d'ciment
Un nez d'plastic
Un œil de vitre
Des oreilles en rubber
Des ch'veux d'papier
Une cuisse de v'lours
Une jambe de bois
Un pied mariton
Refrain

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 06:11 PM

You can hear it played here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 06:16 PM

Hmm - i know a totally different one:

Marie-Madelaine a l'âge de 15 ans
On n'a jamais vu une si belle enfant
Son père et sa mère lui ont demandé
Marie-Madelaine, veux-tu te marier

Non, non, non, je n' me marie pas
Ni avec un prince ni avec un roi
(repeat her answer)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 07:05 PM

Marie-Madeleine a l'âge de 15 ans... Full version (with copyright)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 12:23 PM

La fiancée du timbalier:
It's a long song. It's based on a poem.

FRANCAIS:

"Monseigneur le duc de Bretagne
A, pour les combats meurtriers,
Convoqué de Nantes à Mortagne,
Dans la plaine et sur la montagne,
L'arrière-ban de ses guerriers.

Ce sont des barons dont les armes
Ornent des forts ceints d'un fossé ;
Des preux vieillis dans les alarmes,
Des écuyers, des hommes d'armes ;
L'un d'entre eux est mon fiancé.

Il est parti pour l'Aquitaine
Comme timbalier, et pourtant
On le prend pour un capitaine,
Rien qu'à voir sa mine hautaine,
Et son pourpoint, d'or éclatant !

Depuis ce jour, l'effroi m'agite.
J'ai dit, joignant son sort au mien :
- Ma patronne, sainte Brigitte,
Pour que jamais il ne le quitte,
Surveillez son ange gardien ! -

J'ai dit à notre abbé : - Messire,
Priez bien pour tous nos soldats ! -
Et, comme on sait qu'il le désire,
J'ai brûlé trois cierges de cire
Sur la châsse de saint Gildas.

À Notre-Dame de Lorette
J'ai promis, dans mon noir chagrin,
D'attacher sur ma gorgerette,
Fermée à la vue indiscrète,
Les coquilles du pèlerin.

Il n'a pu, par d'amoureux gages,
Absent, consoler mes foyers ;
Pour porter les tendres messages,
La vassale n'a point de pages,
Le vassal n'a pas d'écuyers.

Il doit aujourd'hui de la guerre
Revenir avec monseigneur ;
Ce n'est plus un amant vulgaire ;
Je lève un front baissé naguère,
Et mon orgueil est du bonheur !

Le duc triomphant nous rapporte
Son drapeau dans les camps froissé ;
Venez tous sous la vieille porte
Voir passer la brillante escorte,
Et le prince, et mon fiancé !

Venez voir pour ce jour de fête
Son cheval caparaçonné,
Qui sous son poids hennit, s'arrête,
Et marche en secouant la tête,
De plumes rouges couronné !

Mes soeurs, à vous parer si lentes,
Venez voir près de mon vainqueur
Ces timbales étincelantes
Qui sous sa main toujours tremblantes,
Sonnent, et font bondir le coeur !

Venez surtout le voir lui-même
Sous le manteau que j'ai brodé.
Qu'il sera beau ! c'est lui que j'aime !
Il porte comme un diadème
Son casque, de crins inondé !

L'Égyptienne sacrilège,
M'attirant derrière un pilier,
M'a dit hier (Dieu nous protège !)
Qu'à la fanfare du cortège
Il manquerait un timbalier.

Mais j'ai tant prié, que j'espère !
Quoique, me montrant de la main
Un sépulcre, son noir repaire,
La vieille aux regards de vipère
M'ait dit : - Je t'attends là demain !

Volons ! plus de noires pensées !
Ce sont les tambours que j'entends.
Voici les dames entassées,
Les tentes de pourpre dressées,
Les fleurs, et les drapeaux flottants.

Sur deux rangs le cortège ondoie :
D'abord, les piquiers aux pas lourds ;
Puis, sous l'étendard qu'on déploie,
Les barons, en robe de soie,
Avec leurs toques de velours.

Voici les chasubles des prêtres ;
Les hérauts sur un blanc coursier.
Tous, en souvenir des ancêtres,
Portent l'écusson de leurs maîtres,
Peint sur leur corselet d'acier.

Admirez l'armure persane
Des templiers, craints de l'enfer ;
Et, sous la longue pertuisane,
Les archers venus de Lausanne,
Vêtus de buffle, armés de fer.

Le duc n'est pas loin : ses bannières
Flottent parmi les chevaliers ;
Quelques enseignes prisonnières,
Honteuses, passent les dernières...
Mes soeurs ! voici les timbaliers !... "

Elle dit, et sa vue errante
Plonge, hélas ! dans les rangs pressés ;
Puis, dans la foule indifférente,
Elle tomba, froide et mourante...
Les timbaliers étaient passés".




ANGLAIS:
"The Duke of Brittany
A, for the bloody fighting,
Convened Nantes to Mortagne
In the plains and the mountains
The backbenchers of his warriors.

They are the barons whose weapons
Adorn forts girded by a moat;
The gallant old in alarms,
Squires, men of arms;
One of them is my fiance.

He went to Aquitaine
As a drummer, and yet
You take it to a captain
Just seeing his haughty mien,
And his doublet, bright gold!

Since then, the terror agitated.
I said, clasping her fate with mine:
- My boss, St Bridget,
For he never leaves,
Watch her guardian angel! -

I said to our Father: - Sir,
Pray also for all our soldiers! -
And, as we know he likes,
I burned three candles wax
On the shrine of St. Gildas.

At Our Lady of Loreto
I promised in my black sorrow,
To attach my gorget,
Closed for the indiscreet
The shells of pilgrims.

He did not by love of wages,
Absent, console my home;
To bear the tender messages
The vassal has no pages
The vassal had no squires.

It should now of war
Back with my Lord;
It is not a vulgar lover;
I raise a brow fell once,
And my pride is the happiness!

The Duke triumphantly recounts
His flag crumpled in the camps;
Come all under the old door
See the brilliant pass escort
And the prince, and my boyfriend!

Come see for this holiday
His horse caparisoned
Who under his weight neighing, stops,
And walking, shaking his head,
Red feathers crowned!

My sisters, you deal so slow,
Come see by my winnings
These cymbals sparkling
Who in his hand still trembling
Sound, and make the heart leap!

Come see above himself
Under the cloak that I embroidered.
That will be beautiful! I love him!
He wears a tiara
His helmet-hair flooded!

The Egyptian sacrilege
Drawing me behind a pillar,
Told me yesterday (God forbid!)
That the fanfare of the parade
It lacks a timpanist.

But I prayed, I hope!
While showing me the hand
A grave, his dark lair
The old look of the viper
Told me: - I expect you here tomorrow!

Let's fly! more dark thoughts!
These are the drums that I hear.
Here are the ladies huddled
Purple tents erected,
Flowers, flags and floats.

On the train sways two rows:
First, the pikemen not heavy;
Then, under the banner that displays,
The barons, in a silk dress,
With their velvet caps.

Here are the jumpers of priests;
The heralds on a white steed.
All in memory of ancestors,
Wear the badge of their masters,
Painted on their thorax steel.

Admire the Persian weave
Templars, feared of hell
And, in the long partisan,
Archers from Lausanne
Dressed in Buffalo, armed with iron.

The Duke is not far: his banners
Float among the knights;
Some signs prisoners,
Ashamed, spend the last ...
My sisters drummers here! ... "

She said, and his eyes wandering
Dive, alas! in serried ranks;
Then, in the indifferent crowd,
She fell, cold and dying ...
The drummers were gone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 21 Jun 10 - 07:10 PM

I should probably post a link to a recording of this song, on youtube.
It summarizes the turning point of the Hundred Years War in France.
It's a good song and a good video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7jK2PVvXI8&NR=1

Subject: Lyr Add: C'EST AVIRON
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 05:57 PM

C'est l'aviron

C'est l'aviron   qui nous mène, mène, mène.   C'est l'aviron   qui nous mène en haut!

1. M'en revenant   de la jolie Rochelle,   j'ai rencontré   trois jolies demoiselles.
1. On my return   from lovely Rochelle,   I chanced upon   three lovely young ladies.

2. J'ai point choisi,    mais j'ai pris la plus belle.   J'l'y fis monter   derrièr' moi, sur ma selle.
2. I had no choice;   I took the loveliest.   I pulled her up   behind me on my saddle.

3. J'y fis cent lieues   sans parler avec elle.   Au bout d'cent lieues,   ell' me d'mandit à boire.
3. I rode a hundred leagues   without a word to her.   After a hundred leagues,   she said that she was thirsty.

4. Je l'ai menée   auprès d'une fontaine.   Quand ell' fut là,   ell' ne voulut point boire.
4. I set her down   beside a little fountain.   When she was there,   she did not want to drink it.         

5. Je l'ai menée   au logis de son père.   Quand ell' fut là,   ell' buvait à pleins verres.
5. I took her to   the home of her father.   When she was there,   she drank full many glasses.

6. À la Santé   de son père et sa mère.   À la Santé   de celui que son coeur aime.
6. Drank to the health,   of her father and her mother.   Drank to the health,   of her heart's beloved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: ollaimh
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:19 PM

je n'ecrit pas en francais tres beaucoup ,mais je pense que'n allouette est un sparrow en anglais. n'est pas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:27 PM

No Ollaimh, une alouette is a skylark. A sparrow is une hirondelle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:33 PM

Oops! sorry ,the -ow ending confused me; a sparrow is un moineau, une hirondelle is a swallow.

Subject: What is an "alouette"?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 03:19 PM

To explain some more about what kind of bird is "alouette":
In Québécois & other versions of Canadian French the default meaning of 'alouette' is any of several meadowlarks of the genus Sturnella. In French of France its default meaning is skylark, Alauda arvensis. Because the song "Alouette" is from Québec, I figure it's talking about a meadowlark.

Of course that explanation gets sorely tested, downright fowled up, when the French discuss North American ornithology, or the Québécois discuss European ornithology.

I like to imagine this song could have been a woman's work song, to be sung whilst plucking domestic birds, both to make the work pass more easily and to express a certain longing for the chickens or ducks to be closer in size to the meadowlark, plucking being a thoroughly tedious task, which longing would disappear once plucking was done and the lone bird must feed many mouths.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 03:21 PM

There's a spirited rendition of "C'est l'aviron"/"M'en revenant de la jolie Rochelle" in the middle of (French) podcast 50 of "Bordel de Mer":
http://bordeldemer.com/blog/bordel-de-mer-episode-50/
It's a live version, performed by Mille Sabords (who happen to be the podcaster and his friend). Also notable in the same podcast is the song "Panta Rhei" by the Polish group Banana Boat--sort of sea song meets boy band. I've really enjoyed listening to all the Bordel de Mer podcasts--lots of interesting sea songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 04:14 PM

About larks and songs about larks, a pdf doc. It's in French (os, sorry for the English-only speakers) but very interesting. It says, among other things, that Marius Barbeau suspected the song to have originated in France.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 02:26 PM

Lyr. Add: JEANNETTE ET JEANNOT
"Vieille Chanson"

1
J'â mo bin ma Jeannette
Et son nâ rizolet:
Tot cein qu'on l'ai conmande
Lo fa à bètzevet.

Refrain
Jeannette, Jeannette, Jeannette, Jeannot.
Faut brama trei coup Jeannette,
Et rein qu'un coup Jeannot!
Chorus
Jeannette, Jeannot.
Hé Jeannette,
Hé Jeannot
2
Lo bet' cin tsamp lè vatse
Dévant de lè z'a ryâ,
Lè caïon dein l'étrabllye
Chautant lau dédjon nâ.
3
Jeannot, t'î onna bîte
Lè bin tè que t'î fou:
T'a rolhî noutrè modze,
Epouaitî lo berau!
4
T'î pas fotya deféré
Ne bûro, ne sèré,
Et te letse la cranma!
Quin repé de sorcié!
5
Jeannot! oh! tsaravoûta!
T'ein a mé bu soulon,
Que n'ein a pè La Coûta
Dein lè meillâo z'aôn.
6
Quais'-tè, vîlhie baôgresse
Fifare de café!
T'ein faut dâi zécouèlette
Quasu plleinn' onna mé.
7
Et Por quie ein tant dere
Et tant no remauffâ?
Fazein vit' onna danse,
Dévant que de goutâ!

http://www.scribd.com/patoisvaudois/d/34715091-Jeannette-Et-Jeannot-Vielle-Chanson
folklore jurassien, Adaptée en patois vaudois
par Jules Cordey, dit Marc à Louis.

Found while obtaining lyrics to the English song, Jeannette and Jeannot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 03:19 PM

You can hear it sung there

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 04:09 PM

Monique, could you give a rough translation?

The song Jeanette and Jeannot by the English composers Glover and Jeffreys was very popular in the period 1850-1870. The title is unusual for an English song and I wondered if it had been revised from a French song.

Jeannette and Jeannot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: gnomad
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:11 PM

Monique, your link of Jan4 now shows (me) a 404error,any chance you can offer an alternative?

Can Crowhugger expand on the assertion that Allouette is Quebecois, I have long understood it to be French, but have no evidence? (No knowledge, just curious)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 05:48 PM

@Q: This is no French, it's Arpitan. I'll ask my s-i-l if she can.

@ Gnomad: maybe that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 03:30 PM

Alouette! is an old French song, but its greatest popularity is in French Canada.

Marius Barbeau- "Cette rengaine, née en France, est devenue la plus populaire de toutes les chansons canadiennes."

Marius Barbeau, En roulant ma boule, 1982, Deuxième partie du Répertoire de la chanson folklorique française au Canada, pp. 571-574. (And earlier publications)

Fowke & Johnston- ""Alouette!" is undoubtedly the most popular and the most widely sung of all our songs. Many people think it originated in Canada, but it was actually imported from France several centuries ago."

E. F. Fowke and Richard Johnston, 1954. Folk Songs of Canada, Waterloo Music Company Ltd., Canada.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Paul Burke
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 06:17 PM

Anyone got the rest of this one, tenth-remembered from twenty-odd tears (stet) ago (the lines progress by a lot of repetition, with intercalated "maluraines"):

A Paris y'at une dame belle comme le jour (bis)
Belle comme le jour maluraine
Belle comme le jour

Trois garcons de La Rochelle vont lui faire la court..

Le plus jeune a dit aux autres "Comment faisons nous"..

Il a dit "Faisons une vielle, mais en tout argent"..

Anyway it finishes up with la belle, despite sa maman, riding off with le plus jeune...

J'en vais(?) a La Rochelle avec mon amant..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Genie
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 11:11 PM

That's an important point, LeTenebreux.   The French do tend to 'elongate' many words in song by pronouncing the normally silent final "e" sounds, as we English speakers tend to do the same by holding a vowel sound over 2 or more beats (as in "I-i-i-i-i will always love you-u-u-u ...")



Nia [[Does anyone have the french lyrics / english translation to a little french children's song starting
"un deux trois cache-toi
quatre cinq six "]]

DK if I've heard that one. There was a French song called "Un, Deux Trois" that was on an old LP I had from the Norman Luboff Choir back about 1960.

But I also heard a sad story about three little French kittens named Un, Deux and Trois.
They all went down to the seashore to play, and, unfortunately,
Un, Deux, Trois cats sank.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 02:11 AM

La vielle d'argent

À PARIS Y A-T-UNE DAME

À Paris y a-t-une dame
Belle comme le jour,
À Paris y a-t-une dame
Belle comme le jour,
Bell' comme le jour,
Maluraine !
Bell' comme le jour.

Trois garçons de la Rochelle
Vont lui faire la cour,
Trois garçons de la Rochelle
Vont lui faire la cour,
Lui faire la cour,
Maluraine !
Lui faire la cour.

Le plus jeune dit aux autres :
" Comment donc ferons-nous?
Le plus jeune dit aux autres :
" Comment donc ferons-nous?
Comment ferons-nous ?
Maluraine !
Comment ferons-nous ? "

" Nous ferons faire une vielle
Qui sera-t-en argent,
" Nous ferons faire une vielle
Qui sera-t-en argent,
Mais tout en argent,
Maluraine !
Mais tout en argent.

Nous nous irons à sa porte,
Comme trois mendiants,
Nous nous irons à sa porte,
Comme trois mendiants,
Comm' trois mendiants,
Maluraine !
Comm' trois mendiants."

Quand ils sont devant la porte,
Vir' la vielle d'argent,
Quand ils sont devant la porte,
Vir' la vielle d'argent,
La vielle d'argent,
Maluraine !
La vielle chargent.

" Qu'est ça, qu'est ça? " dit la mère.
" Sont là trois mendiants.
" Qu'est ça, qu'est ça? " dit la mère.
" Sont là trois mendiants.
Sont trois mendiants,
Maluraine !
Sont trois mendiants."

" Vite allez-vous-en, ma fille.
Chasser ces mendiants,
" Vite allez-vous-en, ma fille.
Chasser ces mendiants,
Chasser ces mendiants,
Maluraine !
Chasser ces mendiants.

Quand vous serez à la barrière,
Vit' retournez-vous-en.
Quand vous serez à la barrière,
Vit' retournez-vous-en.
Retournez-vous-en ,
Maluraine !
Retournez-vous-en."

En entendant jouer la vielle,
Jouer la vielle d'argent.
En entendant jouer la vielle,
Jouer la vielle d'argent.
La vielle d'argent,
Maluraine !
La vielle d'argent.

A bien passé la barrière
Encore plus avant,
A bien passé la barrière
Encore plus avant,
Encor' plus avant,
Maluraine !
Encor' plus avant.

Le plus jeun' la prend, la monte,
Monte sur son cheval blanc,
Le plus jeun' la prend, la monte,
Monte sur son cheval blanc,
Sur son cheval blanc,
Maluraine !
Sur son cheval blanc.

"Adieu, père, et adieu, mère
Et tous mes grands-parents,
"Adieu, père, et adieu, mère
Et tous mes grands-parents,
Et tous mes parents,
Maluraine !
Et tous mes parents.

Je m'en vas à la Rochelle,
Avecque mon galant,
Avec mon galant,
Maluraine !
Avec mon galant."

C. Mendès, Les plus jolies chansons du pays de France p. 33 (Saintonge).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 05:48 AM

Mere si beau cul, Monique!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Feb 12 - 09:41 PM

Lyr. Add: Bonhomme, bonhomme

Il estoit un bonne homme (bis)
Jouant de la temboure (bis)
Di be di be di be don
Et de la trompette,
Fran, fran, fran
Et de la my fluste,
Turelututu relututu
Et de la mi fa sol la,
Farelarirette, farelarirette
Et de la mi fs sol la,
Farelarirette liron fa.

Il estoit un bon homme (bis)
Jouant de la cymbale (bis)
Drin relin din din relin din
Et de la vielle,
Yon, yon, yon
Et de la rebeque,
Tire li ty ty reli ty ty
Et de la mi fa sol la,
Farelarirette liron fa
....
Jouant de la violle
Torelo totio rela totio
Et de la raquette,
clac clic clac
Et de la musette,
Toure loure loure lou, .....

.....
Jouant de la mandore
Tire lire lire la
Et de la navette,
Vrest vrest brest
Et de la cliquette,
Taque tique taque tac, .....

....
Jouant de la braguette
Zipe zipe zipe zipeson
Et de son de rire re,
Zesteroc pouf
Et de la bouteille,
Glou glou glou glou glou
Glou glou glou glou ....

A French "Bonhomme, bonhomme."
Association@lyon: Chansons populaires, song collection.

http://www.alyon.org/litterature/chansons/

Subject: Lyr. Add: L'Amour de Moi
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 05:12 PM

Lyr. Add: L'AMOUR DE MOI (MOY)
Medieval, c. 15 C.

Refrain
L'amour de moy s'y enclose
Dedans un joli jardinet
Où croît la rose et le muguet
Et aussifait la passerose

Refrain

Ce jardin est bel et plaisant
Il est garni de toutes flours
On y prend son ébattement
Autant la nuit comme le jour

Refrain

Hélas! Il n'est si douce chose
Que de ce doux rossignolet
Qui chante au soir, au matinet
Quand il est las, il se repose

Refrain

Je la vis l'autre jour, cueillir
La violette et un vert pré
La plus belle qu'oncques je vis
Et la plus plaisante à mon gré

Refrain

Je la regardai una pose
Elle était blanche comme lait
Et douce comme un agnelet
Et vermeillette comme rose

Refrain

A note in Wikipedia says the song was sung by Pierre de la Rue (c.1452-1518). Composer unknown.
Sung by many (see youtube) including Streich and Mouskouri.

Rough translation to follow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 05:54 PM

Correction 1st verse, line 1-
Ce jardin est bel et plaisant,

L'AMOUR DE MOI
Free translation

Refrain-
My love is enclosed there
In a pretty garden
Where grow the rose and lily of the valley
Also there is the sparrow.

The garden is beautiful and pleasant
It is filled with many flowers
We take its pleasure
At much at night as in the day

*Alas! There is nothing more sweet
Than this gentle nightingale
Who sings in the evening and early morning
And rests when he is weary

I saw her the other day, collecting
Violets in the green meadow
The most beautiful sight
And most pleasant to me

I regard her appearance;
She is white as milk,
and as sweet as a baby lamb
And as bright as the rose.

* Helas usually means Alas!, but here it literally means 'struck dumb'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 06:10 PM

Sheet music can be found online, American University Library, Historical Sheet Music Collection.

Not included in Berthier, Mille Chants

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 06:57 PM

I suspect you meant to give the 1st verse 1st line correction as:
L'amour de moy s'y est enclose

The line you gave was the 1st line of the 2nd verse, which you'd given correctly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 02:48 AM

Q, it is on Berthier's Mille chants, Book 1 page 23, or are your edition and mine different?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Apr 12 - 05:29 PM

Monique, I looked in the "Table Alphabetique" and it is not listed there.
It is listed under "anciennes" p. 249, but unless one knew it was medieval, how would one find it?
"Table of Themes," which lists "Anciennes" is on p. 274.

Or does one have to have a gallic mind to use these most peculiar indices?

My eye happened to see "Moby Dick" listed as a folksong (which it isn't) but I couldn't find a page number for it.
(It is an instrumental, also used with a lyric, by Led Zeppelin, but I don't think that is the number referred to).

"Ya se van los pastores", a favorite folksong of mine (esp. as sung by Germaine Montero) is in the "Table Alphabetique" as "Ya se van" but not under the section folksong.

"'Tis a puzzlement."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 09 Apr 12 - 02:14 AM

Q, it's explained at the top of page 247 but it's in French.
To find what is actually in the book in alphabetical order (you need to check after you've removed le, la, l' or les if the title begins by any of these articles) you must go to p. 275.
In the table of themes, in each section, the first titles which are in lower case and italics ARE in the book, then there are titles mentioned in bold capitals with the name of their authors: those are NOT in the book, they're mentioned to let people know they exist.
In Berthier's 1000 chants, you'll find all the foreign songs listed in the table of themes in "Pays, terroirs" in which you first find the names of different countries or groups of countries then the names of different regions of France.

Now a word about "folk song": it doesn't have the same meaning in French (!). A "folk song" (English words) for us is any American traditional song with or without author(s). You might not consider all of them either folk songs or trad songs in your culture. They're usually the type you can listen in westerns or a song by Woody Guthrie and the like. We use "chanson folk" to mean French traditional songs that people such as Malicorne revived in the 70's. Traditional songs from whatever other country is a "chanson traditionnelle".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Apr 12 - 02:14 PM

Monique, don't misunderstand, the Berthier volumes are an excellent resource for French songs, folk or other, but the indexes are difficult to use for one who is used to a different usage of terms.
I am considering copying the indexes, cut and paste, to see if I can make an alphabetical listing. (if I get the time!)

Treatment of articles doesn't seem to be consistent.

To continue this digression, which really doesn't belong here:
Seeing Stephen Foster's "Old Black Joe" listed as a folk song grates; Foster was one of the great U.S. song composers, and the song was spread by reams of sheet music and latterly many recordings.

"Moby Dick" seems to be by a modern French composer; your explanation that titles in caps are not in the volume explains why it couldn't be found. Certainly not a folk song in English usage.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,Olga from Melbourne, Australia
Date: 21 May 13 - 06:27 PM

I would love to find the words and music for 'Amourette, petit bateau' which my Mum used to sing and play on piano.

Hopefully,

Olga

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Artful Codger
Date: 23 May 13 - 06:54 AM

Could it be "Bateau d'amour" by Charles Trenet, the chorus of which begins "L'amour est un petit bateau / Qui s´en va, tout joyeux, sur l´onde"?

YouTube: Reda Caire (1937): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsqXzMQtNPI

Lyrics can be found on several sites.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,charlie
Date: 12 Jun 14 - 08:17 AM

I am working with some elderly people at the moment and we were singing songs about food. One of the men starting singing this wonderfulk song called "Le roi du vin" does anyone know this song and where I could locate it. The man's voice was frail and it was hard to follow. It would be much appreciated as we would like to include this in our show.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 12 Jun 14 - 11:26 AM

Charlie, would you have anything else as a clue apart from this title? This title reminded me of "Le roi d'Yvetot" (lyrics and tune here) who indeed "had four meals a day" but I can't think of any song called "Le roi du vin".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Jun 14 - 12:40 PM

Charlie, do you recall any other lines?

Reminds me of "Chevaliers de la table ronde," although the line you give is not in the song (which has variants, however). See DT.

Could it be a lyric from Gounod's "Faust"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 12 Jun 14 - 02:32 PM

I also thought of "Chevaliers de la table ronde" because "Le roi du vin" might be "Le roi des buveurs" but without any other clue, it's impossible to tell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: GUEST,diplocase
Date: 01 Jun 20 - 05:08 PM

Here's a French folk song I translated into a singable English version. I stayed as close as possible to the original, making changes only to find a rhyme. As anyone knows who has tried to write poetry in French and English, it's much easier to find a rhyme in French!

The series of CDs "Anthologie de la chanson Française" is great and has three albums of songs from the oral tradition and great liner notes.

The lyrics I translated are very slightly different from the ones sung by Marie-Noëlle Lemapihan, but the tune is the same. I think it captures the meaning and the ironic tone.

"Anthologie de la chanson française”CD - singer Marie-Noëlle Lemapihan

ADVICE TO THE BRIDE

Conseils à la mariée
(w/m Trad French-speaking Brittany, translated from French by Casey)

1.      From all the glens around, we gather here together
to see these lovers joined in wedlock bands forever
In love and happiness, In joy and sweet content,
they come together now, and may they not repent.

Nous voici descendus, du haut de ces villages
Nous voici rassemblés pour faire un mariage
Ils sont doux et heureux, les voilà tous les deux
Ils ont le cœur content, en voilà pour longtemps


2. Remember what you said, before the priest and parish
to love him as your self, to love him and to cherish
Be true to your true love, as he must also be
Obey your wedded lord, and love him tenderly

Ne te rappelles-tu pas ce qu’il a dit, le prêtre?
A dit la vérité, comme elle devait être :
Fidèle à votre époux, de l’aimer comme vous.
Fidèle à votre amant, de l’aimer tendrement


3. Now he is your lord, and some would say your master
So soon their vows they make, they break them even faster
true to you alone, and true until they die
true to you alone, but every word a lie

Quand l’on dit son époux, on dit souvent "son maître"
les hommes ne sont point doux, comme ils l’ont promis d’être:
fidèles, ils ont promis, le reste de leurs vies
fidèles, ils ont promis, mais ils ont bien menti!


4. Unto the bonny bride, we bring a-many’s a flower
That you may not forget, they’re withered in an hour
So you may understand, while in your blushes gay,
The roses in your cheeks they soon will fade away

Recevez ces bouquets, Madame la mariée
Recevez ces bouquets, prenez et regardez
C’est pour vous faire connaitre, aussi vous faire savoir
Que toutes vos belles couleurs flétriront comme ces fleurs

[alternate for the foregoing verse:
Recevez ce bouquet
Que nous venons vous tendre :
Il est fait de genêts
Pour vous faire connaitre, aussi vous faire savoir
Que tous les vains honneurs
Passent comme des fleurs.]

5. Unto the bonny bride, we bring the fine white bread-o
We bring you cakes and ale, a table fine to spread-o
That you may not forget your bread is won with pain
So you may understand you first must win the grain.
Recevez ces gâteaux, Madame la mariée
Recevez ces gâteaux, prenez et en mangez
C’est pour vous faire connaitre, aussi vous faire savoir
Que pour les bien manger, il faudra les gagner!

[Variante de ce dernier couplet:
Recevez ce gâteau
Que ma main vous présente.
Il est fait de façon à vous faire comprendre
Qu’il faut pour se nourrir travailler et souffrir.]
[Si vous avez, Bretons,
Des bœufs dans vos herbages
Des brebis, des moutons, des oisillons sauvages
Il faut leur conseiller, de mieux se rappeler.
Songez, soir et matin qu’à leur tour ils ont faim.]

6. My money and my land, unto my lord are rendered
Farewell my liberty, no more to be remembered
Farewell, my native place, farewell my parents kind
Let no one speak to me of what I leave behind

Adieu Chateaubriande, le château de mon père
Où j’ai été élevée, en faisant bonne chère
Adieu plaisirs et joies d’une enfant comme moi
Adieu ma liberté, il n’en faut plus parler

7. It’s no more to the May, and no more to the fair-o
No more ribbons gay, to flyte the young men there-o
We all will go and dance, while you will meekly bide
It’s you will keep the house, my bonny little bride!

Vous n’irez plus au bal, Madame la mariée
Vous n’irez plus aux bals, aux bals et assemblées
Vous resterez à regarder, tandis que moi j’irai,
À garder la maison, mon joli cœur mignon!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 01 Jun 20 - 06:32 PM

Conseils à la mariée by Marie-Noëlle Lemapihan. A slightly different version can be found here, page 57 (article in French from 1935 with some songs about engagement and wedding).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Jun 20 - 07:24 PM

Great thread! A coupla comments...

It would never be Blanche Biche. It would be Biche Blanche.

If we know who wrote it, that doesn't make it not a folk song. (Does it?)

It's Il était une bergère (once there was a sheperdess), not Elle était une bergère (she was a sheperdess). And *that* is a song not for American kids! The way I learned it she kills her cat and is sorry, end of song. But then I looked it up and it goes on to her going to the priest for absolution and the penance is he gets to kiss her! And he likes it so he does it again! Eewwww!

And to add a song: Il était un petit navire (in which the starving sailors draw straws/lots to see whom to eat, the chosen little boy prays and zillions of fish jump into the ship). Great song.

For the Canadian side I recommend the whole double album called J'ai vu le loup, le renard, le lion.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 01 Jun 20 - 07:45 PM

Mrzzy, you do find some "blanc/blanche-quelque-chose" in old stuff, poetry or songs as in Old French, you could say so (Ordre des adjectifs épithètes). Cf. La blanche hermine by Gilles Servat, La rue des Blancs-Manteaux by Juliette Gréco, Iseult aux blanches mains, sans oublier le blanc-manger que tu prépares de tes blanches mains!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 01 Jun 20 - 09:36 PM

Oops! Sorry for the misspelling Mrrzy. There's also "La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe!" when someone tells you something mean et bien sûr, "Blanche-Neige".

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Jun 20 - 09:50 AM

Poetic license, granted, merci me chère!

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 04:12 PM

A song from Brittany attributed to Pierre Certon (ca 1510/1515 - 1572)

DÉJA MAL MARIÉE Mon père m'a mariée À un tailleur de pierre, Mon père m'a mariée À un tailleur de pierre, Le lendemain de mes noces M'envoie-t-à la carrière, la. Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. Refrain : Déjà mal mariée déjà Déjà mal mariée, gué Déjà mal mariée, déjà Déjà mal mariée, gué Le lendemain de mes noces M'envoie-t-à la carrière, Le lendemain de mes noces M'envoie-t-à la carrière, Et j'ai trempé mon pain Dans le jus de la pierre, la Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. (Refrain) Et j'ai trempé mon pain Dans le jus de la pierre, Et j'ai trempé mon pain Dans le jus de la pierre, Par là vint à passer Le curé du village, la. Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. (Refrain) Par là vint à passer Le curé du village, Par là vint à passer Le curé du village, "Bonjour Monsieur le Curé J'ai trois mots à vous dire, la. Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. (Refrain) Bonjour Monsieur le Curé, J'ai trois mots à vous dire, Bonjour Monsieur le Curé, J'ai trois mots à vous dire : Hier, vous m'avez fait femme, Aujourd'hui faites-moi fille, la. Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. (Refrain) Hier, vous m'avez fait femme, Aujourd'hui faites-moi fille, Hier, vous m'avez fait femme, Aujourd'hui faites-moi fille. De fille, je fais femme, De femme je n' fais point fille, la." Déjà mal mariée, Déjà mal mariée, gué. (Refrain)

ALREADY BADLY MARRIED My father married me off To a stonemason, My father married me off To a stonemason, The day after my wedding, He sent me to the quarry, la*. Already badly married, Already badly married, gay*. Chorus: Already badly married, already Already badly married, gay Already badly married, already Already badly married, gay. The day after my wedding, He sent me to the quarry, The day after my wedding, He sent me to the quarry, And I dipped my bread In the stone juice, la. Déjà mal mariée, Already badly married, Already badly married, gay. (Chorus) And I dipped my bread In the stone juice, And I dipped my bread In the stone juice, There happened to pass by The village priest, la. Already badly married, Already badly married, gay. (Chorus) There happened to pass by The village priest, There happened to pass by The village priest, "Good morning, Father I must tell you a few words, la. Already badly married, Already badly married, gay. (Chorus) Good morning, Father I must tell you a few words, Good morning, Father I must tell you a few words: Yesterday, you made a wife of me, Today, make a girl of me, la. Already badly married, Already badly married, gay. (Chorus) Yesterday, you made a wife of me, Today, make a girl of me, Yesterday, you made a wife of me, Today, make a girl of me. Of a girl I make a wife, Of a wife I make no girl, la." Already badly married, Already badly married, gay. (Chorus)

*la either spelled "la" or "là" has no meaning here. "gué/gai" (or "ô gué") can be found in old songs to express joy. Here it's more about rhyming with "mariée".
I've seen "jus de la pierre" translated as "stone sap". Whether you word it as "juice" or "sap" as stone has neither of them it just shows how hard her life was.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 05:01 PM

Here is a link to the song this reminded me of...

https://youtu.be/tL-g9XnZM3w

I can't understand any of the commentary...

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Jul 20 - 05:02 PM

Oops blicky

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Monique
Date: 21 Jul 20 - 01:34 AM

Commentary on "Mon père y m'a marié": "Je kiff" (/je kiffe) = "j'aime" = I like (it). From the verb "kiffer", itself from "kif", a blend of pot and tobacco smoked in North Africa. From it > French colloquial verb "kiffer" meaning to smoke kif and the bliss felt when smoking. From this bliss > "kiffer" = to like.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: French folk songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 08:54 AM

Depuis quand or rather pourquoi is Quand les hommes vivront d'amour not a folk song? I know we know who wrote it, but I don't see how that makes it not a folk song.

And I will find a new link to that video.

Subject: Lyr Add: J'AI PERDU LE DO DE MA CLARINETTE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 10:21 AM

This is a popular children’s song.


J'AI PERDU LE DO DE MA CLARINETTE

J'ai perdu le do de ma clarinette
J'ai perdu le do de ma clarinette
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Il dirait "ohé"
Il chanterait "ohé"
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas

J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi de ma clarinette
J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi de ma clarinette
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Il dirait "ohé"
Il chanterait "ohé"
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas

J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi, le fa, le sol de ma clarinette
J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi, le fa, le sol de ma clarinette
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Il dirait "ohé"
Il chanterait "ohé"
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas

J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi, le fa, le sol, le la, le si de ma clarinette
J'ai perdu le do, le ré, le mi, le fa, le sol, le la, le si de ma clarinette
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la
Il dirait "ohé"
Il chanterait "ohé"
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas

Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas
Au pas, camarade, au pas, camarade
Au pas, au pas, au pas

* * *
I have listened to several recorded versions of this song, and have found several variants:
1. Sometimes, instead of being a cumulative song, as illustrated above, the various notes are substituted for, rather than added to, the previous notes; thus the second verse would have: “J'ai perdu le ré de ma clarinette.”
2. Sometimes line 4 of the song is “Il me tap'rait sur les doigts, tra-la-la” or “J'me f'rais taper sur les doigts, tra-la-la” instead of repeating “Ah, si papa savait ça, tra-la-la.”
3. Sometimes the middle lines “Il dirait ‘ohé’/Il chanterait ‘ohé’” are omitted.

I have never heard a recorded version with more than 3 verses.