La noce des oiseaux
This song is also called "L'alouette et le pinson" (The Lark and The Chaffinch).
La noce des oiseaux
The Birds Wedding
Chanson enfantine
Children's Song
(French)
(English)
L'alouette et le pinson
Ont voulu se marier
Mais le jour de leurs noces
Ils n'avaient rien à manger.
Refrain
Ma Nanon tout de bon
Oui bientôt nous ferons la noce,
Ma Nanon tout de bon
Oui bientôt nous nous marierons.
Par ici passe un lapin,
Sous son bras tenait un pain
Mais du pain nous avons trop,
C'est d' la viande qu'il nous faut.
Par ici passe un corbeau,
Dans son bec porte un gigot
Mais d' la viande nous avons trop,
C'est du bon vin qu'il nous faut.
Par ici passe une souris,
À son cou porte un baril
Mais du vin nous avons trop,
C'est d' la musique qu'il nous faut.
Par ici passe un gros rat,
Un violon dessous son bras
Bonjour à la compagnie,
N'y a-t-il pas de chats ici?
Entrez musiciens, entrez,
Tous les chats sont au grenier
Du grenier descend un chat
Il emporte le gros rat.
The lark and the finch*
Wanted to get married
But on the wedding day
They had nothing to eat.
Chorus
My Nanon**, yes, indeed,
We'll soon have our wedding
My Nanon, yes indeed,
We'll soon get married.
Round this way passes a rabbit
Carrying a loaf under his arm
But we have too much bread
It's meat that we need!
Round this way passes a crow
Carrying a mutton leg in its beak
But we have too much meat
It's good wine that we need!
Round this way passes a mouse
Carrying a barrel under its neck
But we have too much wine
It's music that we need!
Round this way passes a big rat
A violin under its arm
Good day to all of you
Aren't there any cats here?
Come in, musicians, come in,
All the cats are in the loft
Down from the loft, comes a cat
That takes the big rat away.
Notes
*It's specifically a chaffinch, which is a type of finch commonly found in Europe. It sings a very cheerful song!
**Nanon is a French girls name (it comes from Anne).
Comments
Monique learned this song in school as a child.
The marriage of two birds is also the theme of a German kids song. If you'd like to read it, see A Bird Wanted to Get Married.
Many thanks to Edit' Dupont for singing the first version of this song for Mama Lisa's World.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing this song and translating it with Lisa!
Image: "Chansons nationales et populaires de France" by Théophile Marion Dumersan (1846).
Merci beaucoup!
