En passant par la Lorraine

folk song / traditional

Info

This song dates from the 16th century. (source)

Lyrics - French

(Folk song from France)

En passant par la Lorraine,
Avec mes sabots,
En passant par la Lorraine,
Avec mes sabots,
Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots, dondaine,
Oh, oh, oh, Avec mes sabots.

Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots,
Rencontrai trois capitaines,
Avec mes sabots,
Ils m’ont appelée “Vilaine !”
Avec mes sabots, dondaine,
Oh, oh, oh, Avec mes sabots.

Ils m’ont appelée “Vilaine !”
Avec mes sabots, (repeat)
Je ne suis pas si vilaine…

Je ne suis pas si vilaine,
Avec mes sabots, (repeat)
Puisque le fils du roi m’aime…

Puisque le fils du roi m’aime,
Avec mes sabots, (repeat)
Il m’a donné pour étrenne…

Il m’a donné pour étrenne,
Avec mes sabots, (repeat)
Un bouquet de marjolaine…

Translation – While passing through Lorraine

Passing through Lorraine*,
With my clogs,
Passing through Lorraine,
With my clogs,
Met three captains,
With my sabots, dondaine**,
Oh, oh, oh, With my hooves.

Met three captains,
With my clogs,
Met three captains,
With my clogs,
They called me “Naughty!”
With my sabots, dondaine,
Oh, oh, oh, With my hooves.

They called me “Naughty!”
With my hooves, (repeat)
I’m not that bad…

I’m not that bad
With my hooves, (repeat)
Since the king’s son loves me…

Since the king’s son loves me,
With my hooves, (repeat)
He gave me as a gift…

He gave me as a gift,
With my hooves, (repeat)
A bunch of marjoram…

*Lorraine is a region of France located in the northeast.
**”dondaine” = bolt, like a dart that is shot with a crossbow (source)

Singable English Version

Through Lorraine the bells are ringing, glad to ring along,
Through Lorraine as I go singing, glad to ring along,
Jolly captains three espie me, shout as they go riding by me,
Oh-ho-ho, glad to ring along.

“What’s your hurry, humble maiden, glad to ring along,
What’s that in your basket laden?” glad to ring along,
“Not so humble, let me tell you, nothing have I here to sell you,
Oh-ho-ho, glad to ring along.

“No, but ’tis the prince’s errand, glad to ring along,
Jewels I may soon be wearing, glad to ring along,
On my gown I wear his posy, that’s what keeps my cheeks so rosy,
Oh-ho-ho, glad to ring along.

“If my posy soon is dying, glad to ring along,
Nought is left to me but sighing, glad to ring along.
If my posy blooms tomorrow I have done with care and sorrow,
Oh-ho-ho, glad to ring along.”