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23 May 09 - 09:21 PM (#2639651) Subject: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Laura Plummer I learned a song in the early 60's which I think was included in the BBC radio programmes for schools - Singing Together. It was a French folk song about Normandy. The tune is clear in my head but the words have faded away - I would really love to sing it again. the phrases 'La Belle France' and 'Normandy where I belong' are the only snatches I can recall. If any other 50-something out there can give me any information I will be over the moon!! |
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23 May 09 - 09:52 PM (#2639657) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Beer This sounds very interesting. I'll be watching. Wish i could help. Beer (adrien) |
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24 May 09 - 01:57 AM (#2639726) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Monique Is it J'irai revoir ma Normandie? If it is, you have the lyrics there. If it isn't, would you remember anything else? |
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24 May 09 - 03:47 AM (#2639746) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: gnomad If it is the one Monique mentions here is a translation, as remembered though probably from the same lessons: When hope springs in my heart anew, And winter flies far, far away, Beneath the skies of our dear France, The quiet sun makes perfect day, When spring returns with bursting leaf, And swallows greet each radiant dawn, (morn?) 'tis the my heart shall long for home, Away in Normandy, where I was born. Oh beauteous sights of other lands, Swiss valleys fair, and mountains blue, Italian skies and gondolas, Their beauty rare I turn to view, But though I love to see them all, And rove sweet meadows green with corn, Yet still my heart will long for home, Away in Normandy, where I was born. I think we only got the two verses |
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24 May 09 - 02:18 PM (#2639945) Subject: Lyr Add: MA NORMANDIE (Frédéric Bérat) From: Monique Lyr ADD: MA NORMANDIE (1836) (Frédéric BÉRAT, 1801-1855) Quand tout renaît à l'espérance, Et que l'hiver fuit loin de nous, Sous le beau ciel de notre France, Quand le soleil revient plus doux, Quand la nature est reverdie, Quand l'hirondelle est de retour, J'aime à revoir ma Normandie ! C'est le pays qui m'a donné le jour. J'ai vu les champs de l'Helvétie, Et ses chalets et ses glaciers ; J'ai vu le ciel de l'Italie, Et Venise et ses gondoliers. En saluant chaque patrie, Je me disais : aucun séjour N'est plus beau que ma Normandie ! C'est le pays qui m'a donné le jour. Il est un âge dans la vie, Où chaque rêve doit finir, Un âge où l'âme recueillie A besoin de se souvenir. Lorsque ma muse refroidie Aura fini ses chants d'amour, J'irai revoir ma Normandie ! C'est le pays qui m'a donné le jour. You can find the lyrics on many web sites. For those who know French, you can find them and some info about Frédéric Bérat on this blog Lyrics and score in: - Diapason turquoise 1, Les Presses d'Ile de France, 2001. p.178 - 1000 chants,vol.1, J.E. Berthier, Les Presses d'Ile de France, 1974. p.139 out of print - Jeunesse qui chante, Les Éditions Ouvrières, 1977, #410 p.175.out of print - Premier livre des chansons de France, Roland Sabatier, Gallimard Jeunesse, 1984;1996, p.108. Gnomad, if you could remember the translation of the 3rd verse, it'd be great! |
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31 Mar 11 - 06:34 PM (#3125849) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,big les thank you, knew the first line had forgotten the rest,sang it at school 50 odd years ago.had been looking on scottish folk song searches.viva le internet |
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01 Apr 11 - 04:45 PM (#3126504) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Artful Codger Apparently, "Ma Normandie" is the former anthem of the province of Normandy, and is the official anthem of the Bailiwick of Jersey, a British Crown dependency consisting of several of the Channel Islands, most notably the Isle of Jersey. Interestingly, since the Bailiwick is a separate entity from both the United Kingdom and France, it's not part of the European Union. For the dot-challenged, here are a few YouTube clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk8aDQf2mBc (art song treatment) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c94EYKmFnhs (movie clip, background music featuring a vocal trio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwKpE9e3h-c (folky, with introductory mooing) |
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24 Feb 13 - 11:29 AM (#3483261) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST I also sang this whilst learning French at Primary School. I loved this song so much and found the accent easy to pick up so early in life. When I got to Secondary School I was asked to sing it when I mentioned that I knew a French song and the teacher got me to record it as she said I had a lovely voice and a good French accent. After that I was forced to join the Choir LOL. I was told by someone at school that the teacher kept that recording and would often play it to her students for years afterwards. It's funny because it came so easily to sing. I just loved the song so much. I am nearly 58 years old now. I still love that song. |
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24 Feb 13 - 04:10 PM (#3483346) Subject: Lyr Add: VERTE CAMPAGNE From: Mrrzy Reminds me of another lovely song, Verte Campagne: Verte campagne Où je suis né Douce compagne De mes jeunes années La ville pleure Et ses larmes de pluie Dansent et meurent Sur mon cœur qui s'ennuie Et moi, je rêve de toi, oh mon amie Verte campagne Que tu es loin Douce compagne De mon premier chagrin Le temps s'efface Pour moi, rien n'a changé Deux bras m'enlacent Parmi les champs de blé Et moi, je rêve de toi,oh mon amie Là, dans la ville toutes ces mains tendues M'offrent des fleurs et des fruits inconnus Et moi, je vais le long des rues perdues Un air de guitare me parle de toi Verte campagne Où je suis né Douce compagne De mes jeunes années La ville chante Eparpille sa joie La ville chante Mais je ne l'entends pas Et moi, je rêve de toi, oh mon amie Et moi, je rêve de toi, oh mon amie |
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28 Mar 13 - 01:57 PM (#3496026) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Tattie Bogle Looks like it's the last verse that's missing from gnomad's English translation: it's not all a direct translation anyway: the French version is about the swallows returning (presumably after the winter)and doesn't mention either the dawn or the morn! Below, my rather literal translation of verse 3: it needs to tweaked a bit to make it scan better, and perhaps re-phrased a bit too! It is a time in your life When every dream must finish, A period when the soul, collected in, Has need to remember, When my cooled muse Has finished its songs of love I will see again my Normandy, It is the country where I was born |
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21 Apr 13 - 09:22 AM (#3506571) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Alex https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC0zgcb_OwA Here is a very special recording of my dad singing this song in the 1950s. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to share with you. |
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23 Apr 13 - 01:20 PM (#3507804) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Tattie Bogle Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for that Alex! |
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02 Sep 13 - 09:01 PM (#3555514) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Another guest I came here hoping for a different song about Normandy. This one I believe was written in the sixties from a folk singer in the region. I have only ever heard it by accidentally finding it on youtube twice about four years ago! It's rather slow and he mentions the coast being grey. This is obviously a long shot but if anyone has a shout about it I'd be enthralled. |
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03 Sep 13 - 02:47 AM (#3555564) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Monique The only songs I could think of are "Made in Normandy" and "Les plages de Normandie" but neither mentions the coast being grey, they weren't written by folk singers either. If you could give some more clues... |
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04 Sep 13 - 03:53 AM (#3555976) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Tattie Bogle There's a song on YouTube called The Lost Way, Cap Gris-Nez: Gris Nez means Grey Nose. Could it be that one? I seem to remember that Cap Gris Nez was the landmark that cross-channel swimmers would head for! The song is OK, but horrible electronic keyboard backing. |
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26 Sep 17 - 09:46 AM (#3878813) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Ham I remember the a verse from the BBC radio program as: And when my days of roaming cease And I have seen this great world's store I then will take my fill of dreams And seek in distant lands no more My muse no more shall need refresh My songs of love no wakening dawn For I will be back home again Away in Normandy where I was born |
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26 Sep 17 - 11:26 AM (#3878833) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: Tattie Bogle I love this song too. My husband and I have been involved in a town twinning arrangement between Linlithgow in West Lothian, and Guyancourt, near Versailles. Music is a big part of any of our twinning weekends, and I introduced this song to our French friends, so we sing an extended bi-lingual version, 3 in French as above, and 3 in English translation. Oddly enough, the French musicians said they did not know the song and protested a bit, " Of course, we are not Normans!" they said! It seemed that more of the Scots knew it, again from French lessons at school! |
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17 Feb 18 - 07:25 PM (#3906379) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Patsyanngee Gee When hope her cheering smile supplies And winter flies far, far away Beneath dear France thy beauteous skies When spring becomes more sweet and gay, And nature’s dressed again in green, The swallow that return is seen. I love again my beauteous land to see, The land that gave me, gave me birth, My Normandy That’s what I remember, bearing in mind it was 60 years ago! Hope this helps |
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31 Oct 18 - 09:45 PM (#3959493) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,Denise Burns I learned it as above except for last 5 lines:
The swallow to return is seen. I love again the land to see That gave me, gave me birth My Normandy |
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01 Nov 18 - 01:34 PM (#3959578) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: french folk song about Normandy From: GUEST,John MacKenzie One of my mother's friends was called Archie Spiers, and he was married to a French lady called Solange. I remember her singing this at New Year, when I was a mere laddie. That would be about 65 years ago, and the tune stayed with me all that time. |
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01 Nov 18 - 06:16 PM (#3959621) Subject: RE: ADD: french folk song about Normandy-Ma Normandie From: Tattie Bogle It is a a gorgeous tune! |
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18 Feb 19 - 06:56 AM (#3977544) Subject: RE: ADD: french folk song about Normandy-Ma Normandie From: GUEST @Tattie Bogle Cap Gris Nez isn't in Normandy, I'm afraid, and it's a good 135 kilometres to Le Tréport, which is at the nearest point of the province. Otherwise, I think all the lyrics quoted here are free translations of Ma Normandie, composed in 1836 by one Frédéric Bérat. Normans get all weepy when they're singing it on a bellyful of cider, pommeau or calvados. |
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18 Feb 19 - 10:27 AM (#3977574) Subject: RE: ADD: french folk song about Normandy-Ma Normandie From: Tattie Bogle Oui, bien sur! Je m'excuse! |
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19 Feb 19 - 01:13 PM (#3977806) Subject: RE: ADD: french folk song about Normandy-Ma Normandie From: John MacKenzie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xttQ76fD5gM |
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01 Jul 23 - 06:25 PM (#4175940) Subject: RE: ADD: french folk song about Normandy-Ma Normandie From: GUEST,Eileen This song popped into my head this morning for some reason but I could only remember part of the first verse. Like many of your contributors, I learned it at primary school in the sixties from the ‘Singing Together’ radio programme. Thank you to gnomad and GUEST.Ham for providing the rest of the words and taking me back to my innocent childhood! |