This song is originally from Western France.

Notes

Version from Brittany (Bretagne):

In Bretagne the rosebush was held in the left hand. Here's a version from "Noces & baptêmes en Bretagne" (1904) by Eugène Herpin:

À ma main gauche, j'ai-t-un rosier,
À ma main gauche, j'ai-t-un rosier,
Qui fleurira, dolidondaine,
Qui fleurira-t-au mois de mai!

Entrez en danse, joli rosier,
Entrez en danse, joli rosier,
Et embrassez, dolidondaine,
Et embrassez qui vous voudrez!

Translation:

In my left hand, I have a rosebush,
In my left hand, I have a rosebush,
That blooms, doli-don-daine,
That blooms for you in the month of May!

Enter the dance, pretty rosebush
Enter the dance, pretty rosebush
And kiss, doli-don-daine,
And kiss the one you'd like.

A More Recent Version:

À ma main droite j'ai un rosier
À ma main droite j'ai un rosier
Qui fleurira au mois de mai
Au mois de mai il fleurira.

Entrez dans la danse
Voyez comme on danse
Chantez, dansez
Embrassez qui vous voudrez.

Translation:

In my right hand I have a rosebush
In my right hand I have a rosebush
That blooms in the month of May
In the month of May it blooms.

Enter the dance
See how we dance
Sing, dance
Kiss whomever you'd like.

Listen

Download MIDI Tune

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The 2nd more recent version in the notes can be heard in the video below. It seems the verse of this song was merged with the chorus of "Nous n'irons plus au bois"…
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Sheet Music

Sheet Music - À ma main droite j'ai un rosier

Thanks and Acknowledgements

A slightly different version of this song can be found in "Rimes et jeux de l'enfance" (1883) by Eugène Rolland.

Translated by Lisa.