Dans ma main droite je tiens rosier
This song is originally from Western France.
Dans ma main droite je tiens rosier
In My Right Hand I Hold a Rosebush
Danse en cercle
Circle dance
(French)
(English)
Meneur : Dans ma main droite je tiens rosier,
Tous : Dans ma main droite je tiens rosier,
Qui fleurira manon, lonla,
Qui fleurira au mois de mai.
Meneur : Entrez en danse, joli rosier,
Tous : Entrez en danse, joli rosier,
Et embrassez manon, lonla,
Et embrassez qui vous plaira.
Leader: In my right hand I hold a rosebush.
Group: In my right hand I hold a rosebush,
That will blossom, manon-lon-la,
That will blossom in the month of May.
Leader: Enter the dance, pretty rosebush.
Group: Enter the dance, pretty rosebush
And kiss, manon-lon-la,
And kiss whoever you like.
Game Instructions
The dancers walk in a circle.
1st Verse: The leader sings the first line and the group answers.
2nd Verse: On the 1st line, the leader sends the person at her right to the center of the circle. The group responds. On the last 2 lines, the person in the center kisses (or bows to) whoever they like and goes to the left of the leader.
The song starts again and the leader sends the new person at her right to the center of the circle during the 2nd verse. The game goes on like this until all have gone to the center and kissed (or bowed to) whoever they liked.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
This song can be found in " Le Foyer canadien", Volumes 1-2 (1863) and "Chansons populaires du Canada" (1865) by Ernest Gagnon.
Translated by Monique.
