La poule à Colin
This song originated in Western France (Poitou, Vendée). The last chorus is sung twice.
La poule à Colin
Colin's Hen
Chanson traditionnelle
Folk Song
(French)
(English)
Colin a-t-une poule qui pond tous les matins,
Colin a-t-une poule qui pond tous les matins,
Elle a été faire sa ponte dans la cour à Martin.
Refrain
Tu n'entends pas mon lanlire*,
Tu n'entends pas mon latin.
Tu n'entends pas mon lanlire,
Tu n'entends pas mon latin.
Elle a été faire sa ponte dans la cour à Martin
Elle a été faire sa ponte dans la cour à Martin
Martin a pris sa fourche, lui a cassé les reins.
(Refrain)
Martin a pris sa fourche, lui a cassé les reins,
Martin a pris sa fourche, lui a cassé les reins,
Il a fait une bonne sauce pour le dimanche au matin.
(Refrain)
Il a fait une bonne sauce pour le dimanche au matin,
Il a fait une bonne sauce pour le dimanche au matin,
Tout l' mond' de la paroisse sont venus saucer leur pain.
(Refrain)
Tout l' mond' de la paroisse sont venus saucer leur pain,
Tout l' mond' de la paroisse sont venus saucer leur pain,
Ainsi qu' Monsieur l' curé qui est venu saucer le sien.
(Refrain)
Ainsi qu' Monsieur l' curé qui est venu saucer le sien,
Ainsi qu' Monsieur l' curé qui est venu saucer le sien,
Trouva la sauce si bonne, qu'y s'y trempa les mains.
(Refrain)
Trouva la sauce si bonne, qu'y s'y trempa les mains,
Trouva la sauce si bonne, qu'y s'y trempa les mains,
Des mains, ben, jusqu'aux coudes, des coudes jusqu'aux reins.
(Refrain)
Des mains, ben, jusqu'aux coudes, des coudes jusqu'aux reins
Des mains, ben, jusqu'aux coudes, des coudes jusqu'aux reins,
Puis il fit perdre la messe à tous ses paroissiens.
(Refrain)
Puis il fit perdre la messe à tous ses paroissiens
Puis il fit perdre la messe à tous ses paroissiens,
À toutes ces bonnes vieilles qui en ont tant de besoin.
(Refrain)
À toutes ces bonnes vieilles qui en ont tant de besoin,
À toutes ces bonnes vieilles qui en ont tant de besoin,
Ainsi finit l'histoire de la poule à Colin.
(Refrain)
Colin has a hen that lays an egg every morning,
Colin has a hen that lays an egg every morning,
She went to lay her egg in Martin's yard.
(Chorus)
You don't understand my lanlire,
You don't understand my Latin.
You don't understand my lanlire,
You don't understand my Latin.
She went to lay her egg in Martin's yard,
She went to lay her egg in Martin's yard,
Martin took his fork and broke her back.
(Chorus)
Martin took his fork and broke her back,
Martin took his fork and broke her back,
He made a good sauce for the Sunday morning.
(Chorus)
He made a good sauce for the Sunday morning,
He made a good sauce for the Sunday morning,
Everybody from the parish came to dip their bread.
(Chorus)
Everybody from the parish came to dip their bread,
Everybody from the parish came to dip their bread,
And also Mister Priest who came to dip his own.
(Chorus)
And also Mister Priest who came to dip his own,
And also Mister Priest who came to dip his own,
He found the sauce so good that he dipped his hands in it.
(Chorus)
He found the sauce so good that he dipped his hands in it,
He found the sauce so good that he dipped his hands in it,
From his hands, well, up to his elbows, from his elbows down to his lower back.
(Chorus)
His hands, well, up to his elbows, from his elbows down to his lower back
His hands, well, up to his elbows, from his elbows down to his lower back,
Then he made all his parishioners miss mass.
(Chorus)
Then he made all his parishioners miss mass,
Then he made all his parishioners miss mass,
All those good old ladies who need it so much.
(Chorus)
All those good old ladies who need it so much,
All those good old ladies who need it so much,
Thus ends the story of Colin's hen.
(Chorus)
Notes
*"Lanlire" is a nonsense word used in old songs. "Lonla/lanla, lanlaire/ lanlère/lonlère…" are variants.
Another Version:
Colin a-t-une poule qui, à tous les matins,
Une heure avant l'aurore, pondait dans le moulin.
Refrain
Blow in the mor', mor', the morning blow!
Blow in the morning, the morning blow!
Colin a pris sa fourche, lui a cassé les reins
A fait une gibelotte*, le dimanche au matin.
(Refrain)
Invita tout le monde, Nicolas son voisin,
Le curé du village y vint saucer son pain.
(Refrain)
Trouva la sauc' si bonne qu'il s'y est mis les mains,
Des mains, mais jusqu'aux coudes, des coudes jusqu'aux reins.
(Refrain)
A fait manquer la messe à ses bons paroissiens,
S'il est monté en chaire, c'est pour prêcher Colin.
(Refrain)
-Excusez, mes chers frères, car je n'y suis pour rien,
Si vous manquez la messe, c'est la faute à Colin !
(Refrain)
English Translation:
Colin has a hen that, every morning,
One hour before dawn, would lay [an egg] in the mill.
Chorus
Blow in the mor', mor', the morning blow!
Blow in the morning, the morning blow!
Colin took his fork, he broke her back
He made a stew on the Sunday morning.
(Chorus)
He invited everybody, his neighbor Nicholas,
The village priest went to dip his bread.
(Chorus)
He found the sauce so good that he put his hands in it,
From the hands up his elbows, from the elbows down to his lower back.
(Chorus)
He made his good parishioners miss mass,
If he went up on the chair, it was to lecture Colin.
(Chorus)
"Excuse me, my dear brothers, it has nothing to do with me,
If you miss mass, it's Colin's fault!"
(Chorus)
*Gibelotte is a meat (usually rabbit) stewed in white wine. The word comes from "gibier" (game).
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Josée Lehoux for contributing this song. Translated by Monique Palomares.
