These are traditional 18th century lyrics that are sung to the tune of the Gregorian Kyrie chant from "The Mass of the Angels".
Nous n'irons plus au bois,
Les lauriers sont coupés.
La belle que voilà,
La laiss'rons nous danser ? *
Refrain
Entrez dans la danse,
Voyez comme on danse,
Sautez, dansez,
Embrassez qui vous voudrez.
La belle que voilà,
La laiss'rons nous danser ? *
Et les lauriers du bois,
Les laiss'rons nous faner ?
(Refrain)
Non, chacune à son tour
Ira les ramasser.
Si la cigale y dort,
Ne faut pas la blesser.
(Refrain)
Le chant du rossignol
La viendra réveiller,
Et aussi la fauvette,
Avec son doux gosier.
.
(Refrain)
Et Jeanne, la bergère,
Avec son blanc panier,
Allant cueillir la fraise
Et la fleur d'églantier.
(Refrain)
Cigale, ma cigale,
Allons, il faut chanter
Car les lauriers du bois
Sont déjà repoussés.
We'll go to the woods no more,
The laurels have been cut.
That beauty there,
Will we let her dance?
(Chorus)
Join the dance
See how we dance,
Jump, dance,
Kiss whoever you want.
That beauty there,
Will we let her dance?
And the laurels in the woods
Will we let them wither?
(Chorus)
No, each one takes her turn
To go pick them.
If the cicada is sleeping there,
It must not be hurt.
(Chorus)
The song of the nightingale
Will wake it up,
And also the warbler
With its sweet voice.
(Chorus)
And Jean, the shepherdess
With her white basket,
Going to pick strawberries
And wild roses.
(Chorus)
Cicada, my cicada,
Come on, you must sing
For the laurels in the woods
Have grown again.
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Notes
*Alternate line: "Ira les ramasser" (will go to pick them up).
Game Instructions
The children form a circle. One child is chosen to start the game. She's part of the circle with the others. "The beauty" is the child on her right. On the first verse, the children walk while singing. On "Entrez dans la danse" (Join the dance), "the beauty" goes to the center of the circle and dances. On the last line, she chooses someone and places her on her left. This child will be the next "beauty".
Comments
At this link you can hear a recording of this song from 1930 at the BNF.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing this rhyme. Translated by Monique and Lisa.
Image: "Chansons nationales et populaires de France: accompagnées de notes historiques et littéraires", Volume 2 (1866).
MP3: Monique Palomares
Merci beaucoup!
