Il était une bergère

folk song / traditional

Info

This song originates in the 18th century. (source)

Lyrics - French

(French folk song)

1. Il était un’ bergère,
Et ron, ron, ron, petit patapon;
Il était un’ bergère,
Qui gardait ses moutons,
Ron, ron,
Qui gardait ses moutons.

2. Elle fit un fromage,
Et ron, ron, ron, petit patapon;
Elle fit un fromage,
Du lait de ses moutons,
Ron, ron,
Du lait de ses moutons.

3. Le chat qui la regarde,
Et ron, ron, ron, petit patapon
Le chat qui la regarde,
D’un petit air fripon,
Ron, ron,
D’un petit air fripon.

4. « Si tu y mets la patte,
Et ron, ron, ron, petit patapon;
Si tu y mets la patte,
Tu auras du bâton,
Ron, ron,
Tu auras du bâton. »

5. Il n’y mit pas la patte,
Et ron, ron, ron, petit patapon;
Il n’y mit pas la patte,
Il y mit le menton,
Ron, ron,
Il y mit le menton.

English Translation - There was (once) a shepherdess

1. There was (once) a shepherdess
Et ron ron ron, small dessert*
There was (once) a shepherdess
Who was keeping (kept) her sheep,
Ron, ron,
Who was keeping her sheep.

2. She made a (round of) cheese,
Et ron ron ron, small dessert*
She made a cheese,
milk from his sheep,
Ron, ron,
Milk from his sheep.

3. The cat watching her,
Et ron ron ron, small dessert*
The cat watching her
With a sly little air,
Ron, ron,
With a sly little air.

4. If you put your paw in it,
Et ron ron ron, small dessert*
If you put your paw in it,
You’ll get some caning,
Ron, ron,
You will have a stick. »

5. He didn’t stick his paw in it,
Et ron ron ron, small dessert*
He didn’t stick his paw in it,
He stuck his chin (his whole head) in it.
Ron, ron,
He stuck his chin (his whole head) in it.
(source)