Il était un' dame Tartine
This song is from the 1st half of the 19th century...
Il était un' dame Tartine
There Was a Lady Slice of Bread
Chanson enfantine
Children's Song
(French)
(English)
Il était un' dame Tartine
Dans un beau palais de beurr' frais
La muraille était de praline,
Le parquet était de croquets,
La chambre à coucher
De crème de lait,
Le lit de biscuits,
Les rideaux d'anis.
Quand elle s'en allait à la ville
Elle avait un petit bonnet
Les rubans étaient de pastilles
Et le fond de bon raisiné;
Sa petit' carriole
Était d' croquignoles,
Ses petits chevaux
Étaient d' pâtés chauds
Elle épousa monsieur Gimblette
Coiffé d'un beau fromage blanc
Son chapeau était de galette
Son habit était d' vol-au-vent
Culotte en nougat
Gilet d' chocolat,
Bas de caramel
Et souliers de miel.
Leur fille, la belle Charlotte
Avait un nez de massepain,
De très belles dents de compote,
Des oreilles de craquelin
Je la vois garnir
Sa rob' de plaisirs
Avec un rouleau
De pâte d'abricots.
Le puissant prince Limonade
Bien frisé, vient lui faire sa cour
Ses longs cheveux de marmelade
Ornés de pomm' cuites au four
Son royal bandeau
De petits gâteaux
Et de raisins secs
Portait au respect.
On frémit en voyant sa garde
De câpres et de cornichons
Armés de fusils de moutarde
Et de sabr's en pelur's d'oignons
Sur de bell's brioches
Charlott' vient s'asseoir ,
Les bonbons d' ses poches
Sortent jusqu'au soir.
Voici que la fée Carabosse
Jalouse et de mauvaise humeur
Renversa d'un coup de sa bosse
Le palais sucré du bonheur
Pour le rebâtir
Donnez à loisir,
Donnez, bons parents
Du sucre aux enfants !
There was a Lady Slice of Bread
In a beautiful palace of fresh butter,
The wall was made of praline
The floor was made of biscotti,
The bedroom was made out of
The cream-top of milk,
The bed was made of cookies
The curtains, anise candy.
When she went to the city
She wore a little cap,
The ribbons were made of suckers
And the base was grape preserves,
Her little cart
Was hard crunchy cookies
Her little horses
Were made of pâté pies.
She married Mister Ring-cookie
His hair was beautiful cottage cheese,
His hat was a flat French cake,
His suit was made of canapés:
Pants of nougat,
Vest of chocolate,
Stockings of caramel
And shoes of honey.
Their daughter, the beautiful Charlotte
Had a nose of marzipan,
Very beautiful teeth of compote,
Ears of crackers,
I see her garnish
Her leisure dress
With a roll
Of apricot paste.
The mighty, curly-haired prince Lemonade
Comes to court her,
He has long hair of marmalade,
Decorated with baked apples.
His royal headband,
Made of cupcakes
And raisins,
Brings respect.
One shudders seeing his Guard
Made of capers and gherkins
Armed with mustard rifles
And onion peel sabres.
On nice buns,
Charlotte came to sit down.
The candy in her pockets
Came tumbling out till nighttime.
All of a sudden the Wicked Fairy,
Jealous and bad-tempered,
Used her hump to knock over
The sweet palace of happiness.
To rebuild it:
Give at leisure,
Give, good parents,
Sugar to the children!
Notes
Check out Mama Lisa's World Blog to see photos and descriptions of the foods in Il était un' dame Tartine.
Comments
This song reminds me of the Scottish song called Aiken Drum where the man is also made out of food! -Mama Lisa
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation: Monique Palomares and Lisa Yannucci. Thanks to Lila Pomerantz for the illustration!
Merci beaucoup!
