Il était un p'tit cordonnier
The evils of drinking…
Il était un p'tit cordonnier
There Was A Little Shoemaker
Chanson enfantine
Children's Song
(French)
(English)
Il était un p'tit cordonnier
Il était un p'tit cordonnier
Qui faisait fort bien les souliers
Qui faisait fort bien les souliers.
Il les faisait si juste,
Qu'il n'y'avait rien d' plus juste.
Il les faisait tout dret*,
Pas plus qu'il n'en fallait.
Quand à la ville il s'en allait
Quand à la ville il s'en allait
Son petit cuir il achetait
Son petit cuir il achetait.
Il l'achetait si juste
Qu'il n'y'avait rien d' plus juste.
Il l'achetait tout dret,
Pas plus qu'il n'en fallait.
Puis il allait au cabaret
Puis il allait au cabaret
Sa petite goutte il buvait
Sa petite goutte il buvait.
Il la buvait si juste
Qu'il n'y'avait rien d' plus juste.
Il la buvait tout dret,
Pas plus qu'il n'en fallait.
Quand à la maison il rentrait
Quand à la maison il rentrait
Sa petite femme il battait
Sa petite femme il battait.
Il la battait si juste
Qu'il n'y'avait rien d' plus juste.
Il la battait tout dret,
Pas plus qu'il n'en fallait.
Et le soir pour la consoler
Et le soir pour la consoler
Sa petit' femme il embrassait
Sa petit' femme il embrassait
Il l'embrassait si juste
Qu'il n'y'avait rien d' plus juste.
Il l'embrassait tout dret,
Pas plus qu'il n'en fallait.
There was a little shoemaker,
There was a little shoemaker
Who'd make shoes very well,
Who'd make shoes very well
He would make them so fine
That there was nothing more fine
He would make them so right
Exactly as needed.
When he'd go to the city
When he'd go to the city,
He'd buy his bit of leather
He'd buy his bit of leather,
He'd buy it so fine
That there was nothing more fine
He'd buy it so right
Exactly as needed.
Then he'd go to the tavern
Then he'd go to the tavern,
He'd drink his bit of brandy
He'd drink his bit of brandy
He'd drink it so fine
That there was nothing more fine
He'd drink it so right
Exactly as needed.
When he'd go back home
When he'd go back home,
He'd beat his little wife
He'd beat his little wife.
He'd beat her so fine
That there was nothing more fine
He'd beat her so right
Exactly as needed.
In the evening, to comfort her,
In the evening, to comfort her,
He'd kiss his little wife,
He'd kiss his little wife,
He'd kiss her so fine
That there was nothing more fine
He'd kiss her so right
Exactly as needed.
Notes
* dret is the former pronunciation of droit (right, straight, correct, accurate…)
Sheet Music
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation: Monique Palomares and Lisa Yannucci.
Merci beaucoup!