V'là l' bon vent
Dani Atkinson sent me this song with the note: "I spent several years in Quebec as a kid. While I was there, somebody gave me a picture book and an accompanying tape of French/French-Canadian folk songs. Both book and tape have since disappeared, but I remember some of the tunes, and I recently hunted up the lyrics to refresh them in my mind.
This one was my favourite. Apparently it's Acadian, over three hundred years old. There are several gazillion variations; I've pieced together the one I remember."
V'là l' bon vent
Here Comes the Wind
Chanson traditionnelle
Folk Song
(French)
(English)
(Refrain)
V'là l' bon vent
V'là l' joli vent
V'là l' bon vent
M'amie m'appelle
V'là l' bon vent
V'là l' joli vent
V'là l' bon vent
M'amie m'attend
Derrière chez nous y'a t'un étang
Derrière chez nous y'a t'un étang
Il n'est pas large comme il est grand
Trois beaux canards s'en vont nageant
Trois beaux canards s'en vont nageant
Le fils du roi s'en va chassant
Avec son grand fusil argent
Avec son grand fusil argent
Visa le noir tua le blanc
O, fils du roi, tu es méchant
O, fils du roi, tu es méchant
Tu as tué mon canard blanc
Par dessous l'aile il perd son sang
Par dessous l'aile il perd son sang
Et par les yeux les diamants
Et par le bec l'or et l'argent
Et par le bec l'or et l'argent
Que ferons-nous de tant d'argent?
Nous mettrons les fill's au couvent
Nous mettrons les fill's au couvent
Et les garçons au régiment.
(Chorus)
Here comes the wind
Here comes the pretty wind
Here comes the wind
My friend is calling
Here comes the wind
Here comes the pretty wind
Here comes the wind
My friend waits for me
Behind our house there is a pond
Behind our house there is a pond
It's not as deep as it is wide
Three handsome ducks went a-swimming
Three handsome ducks went a-swimming
The king's son went a-hunting
With his great silver gun
With his great silver gun
Aimed at the black, killed the white
O, son of the king, you are cruel
O, son of the king, you are cruel
You have killed my white duck
From 'neath its wing it loses blood
From 'neath its wing it loses blood
and from its eyes, diamonds
And from its beak, gold and silver
And from its beak, gold and silver
What use to us is lots of money?
We send all our girls to the convent
We send all our girls to the convent
And all the boys to the army.
Notes
Dani said, "I don't swear to the accuracy of my translation, Quebec and French class were a while ago. ^_^;"
Comments
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, folklorist Ernest Gagnon thought the lyrics to the chorus and the tune of "V'la l' bon vent" were Canadian. The theme of the three ducks came from France in the 17th century, but nobody knows for sure whether the verses came from France or were written in Canada.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Dani Atkinson for contributing and translating this song. Thanks also to Monique Palomares for help with the translation and for the midi tune.
Merci beaucoup !
