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Lyr Req: Sur le Pont d'Avignon

27 Sep 00 - 03:18 PM (#306745)
Subject: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis

Hi, all!

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

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

Or however it goes.

Thanks in advance,
hesperis

27 Sep 00 - 03:21 PM (#306746)
Subject: ADD: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: mousethief

clicky

Alex
O..O
=o=


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

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

3. Les officiers font comme ça

4. Les bébés font comme ça

5. Les bons amis font comme ça

6. Les musiciens font comme ça

7. Et les abbés font comme ça

8. Et les gamins font comme ça

9. Les Laveuses font comme ça

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

27 Sep 00 - 03:22 PM (#306747)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: mousethief

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

Alex
O..O
=o=

27 Sep 00 - 03:23 PM (#306748)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: MK

or here.

27 Sep 00 - 03:30 PM (#306752)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Mrrzy

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

27 Sep 00 - 03:32 PM (#306754)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis

Wow! Thanks!

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

27 Sep 00 - 03:42 PM (#306759)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: hesperis

Mrrzy -
Now where do I find the dance steps?

28 Sep 00 - 07:37 AM (#307227)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Bud Savoie

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

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

And I know of no standard dance to the tune.

28 Sep 00 - 01:38 PM (#307426)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: M.Ted

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

15 Jan 04 - 03:03 AM (#1093125)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST

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

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

I found some of the lyrics, but not all.

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

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

Perhaps the intrepid posters could find it?
-Cameron

15 Jan 04 - 03:09 AM (#1093127)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST

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

And here it is!

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

-Cameron

LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE

LA TRAVERSÉE DE L’ATLANTIQUE
SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON
 
SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON, SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON (BIS)
TROIS DAMES S’Y PROMÈNENT OH MA DONDAINE
TROIS DAMES S’Y PROMÈNENT OH MA DONDÉ
TOUT EN S’Y PROMENANT, TOUT EN S’Y PROMENANT (BIS)
ELLES ONT PERDU LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDAINE
ELLES ONT PERDU LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDÉ
TROIS ALLEMANDS PASSANT (BIS)
ONT RAPAILLÉ LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDAINE
ONT RAPAILLÉ LEURS PERLES OH MA DONDÉ
ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS ! ALLEMANDS !
RENDEZ-MOI DONC MES PERLES OH MA DONDAINE
RENDEZ-MOI DONC MES PERLES OH MA DONDÉ
JE TE LES RENDRAI BIEN, JE TE LES RENDRAI BIEN (BIS)
UN BAISER DE VOUS BELLE OH MA DONDAINE
UN BAISER DE VOUS BELLE OH MA DONDÉ
PRENDS-EN UN, PRENDS-EN DEUX (BIS)
PRENDS-EN DONC À TON AISE OH MA DONDAINE
PRENDS-EN DONC À TON AISE OH MA DONDÉ
MAIS NE T’EN VANTE PAS (BIS)
CAR TOUT CEUX QUI S’EN VANTENT OH MA DONDAINE
N’ONT PAS À SE REPRENDRE OH MA DONDÉ

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

15 Jan 04 - 07:59 AM (#1093237)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,T-boy

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

15 Jan 04 - 11:40 AM (#1093402)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST

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

16 Jan 04 - 11:23 AM (#1094198)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton

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

16 Jan 04 - 03:06 PM (#1094374)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

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

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

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

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

Take yer pick.

16 Jan 04 - 03:17 PM (#1094378)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sur Le Pont D'Avignon'
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton

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