La laine des moutons
This is a bourrée dance from the central region of France called Auvergne and Limousin. Bourrée are sometimes called the French Clog Dance.
There are slightly different versions with some additional verbs as you'll notice in the videos below.
La laine des moutons
The Wool of the Sheep
Chanson traditionnelle
Traditional song
(French)
(English)
1. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la tondaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la tondons.
Tondons, tondons,
La laine des moutaines,
Tondons, tondons,
La laine des moutons.
2. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la lavaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la lavons.
Lavons, lavons,
La laine des moutaines,
Lavons, lavons,
La laine des moutons.
3. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la cardaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la cardons.
Cardons, cardons,
La laine des moutaines,
Cardons, cardons,
La laine des moutons.
4. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la filaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la filons.
Filons, filons,
La laine des moutaines,
Filons, filons,
La laine des moutons.
5. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la portaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la portons.
Portons, portons,
La laine des moutaines,
Portons, portons,
La laine des moutons.
6. La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la chantaine,
La laine des moutons,
C'est nous qui la chantons.
Chantons, chantons,
La laine des moutaines,
Chantons, chantons,
La laine des moutons.
1. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who shearool (1) it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who shear it.
Let's shear, let's shear,
The wool of the sheepool (2),
Let's shear, let's shear
The wool of the sheep.
2. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who washool it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who wash it.
Let's wash, let's wash
The wool of the sheepool,
Let's wash, let's wash
The wool of the sheep.
3. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who cardool (3) it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who card it.
Let's card, let's card
The wool of the sheepool,
Let's card, let's card
The wool of the sheep.
4. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who spinool it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who spin it.
Let's spin, let's spin
The wool of the sheepool,
Let's spin, let's spin
The wool of the sheep.
5. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who wearool it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who wear it.
Let's wear, let's wear
The wool of the sheepool,
Let's wear, let's wear
The wool of the sheep.
6. The wool of the sheep,
It's we who singool of it,
The wool of the sheep,
It's we who sing of it.
Let's sing, let's sing
Of the wool of the sheepool,
Let's sing, let's sing
Of the wool of the sheep.
Notes
(1) "Tondaine" in French is made up from the root of the verb (tond-) and the ending of "laine" (wool) but is not an actual word. The verbs near the end of the 2nd line of each verse are made up using the same pattern. We put "ool" at the end of the verbs in English to get the same idea across.
(2) "Moutaines" follows the same pattern as above but is based on the word for sheep (mouton). We put "ool" at the end of sheep in the 3rd to last line of each verse to get "sheepool" to make it similar to the French.
(3) Carding wool is a process that disentangles the sheep's wool to make it easier for spinning.
Thanks!
This version is the same as the one at the top except for verses #5 "tissons" (weave) and #6 "vendons" (sell).
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Monique with Lisa.
