Adieu foulard, adieu madras
Adieu foulard, adieu madras
Farewell Headscarf, Farewell Madras Scarf
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Martinique Creole)
(English)
Bonjour Monsieur le Capitaine
Bonjour Monsieur le Commandant
Mwen vini fè an ti pétition
Pou ou laissé doudou mwen ba mwen.
Mwen vini fè an ti pétition
Pou ou laissé doudou mwen ba mwen.
Hélas, hélas, mademoiselle
Il est déjà un peu trop tard
La navire est sur la bouée
Dans un instant il va appareiller
La navire est sur la bouée
Dans un instant il va appareiller
Bel bato a ki dans la rade
I pren doudou mwen i minnin'i allé
Doudou an mwen ki ka pati
Hélas, hélas cé pou toujou
Doudou an mwen ki ka pati
Hélas, hélas cé pou toujou
Adieu foulard, adieu madras,
Adieu grain d'or*, adieu collier choux*
Doudou an mwen ki ka pati
Hélas, hélas cé pou toujou.
Doudou an mwen ki ka pati
Hélas, hélas cé pou toujou.
Good morning, Sir Captain,
Good morning, Sir Commander,
I've come to make a little request,
So you leave my darling to me.
I've come to make a little request,
So you leave my darling to me.
Alas, alas, Miss,
It's already a little too late.
The ship is at the buoy.
It's about to cast off.
The ship is at the buoy.
It's about to cast off.
The nice ship in the harbor,
Took my darling away
My darling who's going away,
Alas, alas, it's forever.
My darling who's going away,
Alas, alas, it's forever.
Farewell headscarf, farewell madras* scarf,
Farewell gold beaded collar**, farewell "choux" collar**.
My darling is leaving,
Alas, alas, it's forever.
My darling is leaving,
Alas, alas, it's forever.
Notes
*Madras is a type of dyed cotton that comes from India. Usually it has a print or pattern on it.
** "Collier grain d'or" and "collier choux" are typical collars of the Antilles.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Isabelle and Bertrand Bonnechose for contributing this song and for the French translation. Thanks also to Monique Palomares for the midi tune.
Image: At the Pond (Martinique), Paul Gauguin (1887).
Mèsi!
