J'ai l'honneur de monter la garde
J'ai l'honneur de monter la garde
I Have the Honor to Stand Guard
Chanson de ronde
Circle Game
(French)
(English)
J'ai l'honneur de monter la garde
Pour deux heures de faction,
J'ai l'honneur de monter la garde
Pour deux heures de faction.
La garde est montée,
La soupe est trempée,
Changez d' femme
Et laissez l' balai.
I have the honor to stand guard
For a two hour watch
I have the honor to stand guard
For a two hour watch.
The guard has stood,
The soup has soaked*,
Swap wives
And leave the broom.
Notes
*"Soupe" originally meant "sop", i.e. a slice of bread on which broth was poured, hence "to soak the sop". Later it came to mean, "to add sop to the soup and allow it to sop it up".
Game Instructions
An odd number of children walk around in a circle holding hands. Another child stands in the middle with a stick (i.e. the broom in the lyrics), he's "standing guard". On "changez d' femme et laissez l' balai", they gather two by two. The one who remains alone swaps roles with the one "standing guard". Then the game resumes.
Of course, the game can be played without a stick!
Sheet Music
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Note and game instructions: Monique Palomares.
Translation Monique and Lisa.
Merci beaucoup!