This is our translation of a traditional French song about a young girl tricked by a handsome young gardener. Metaphors abound and many liberties have been taken in the translation.
This version is taken from the music of French folk-rock supergroup, Malicorne, led by the late and greatly missed Gabriel Yacoub. It is our favourite Malicorne song and one we had the pleasure of seeing Gabriel perform when he invited us to play at his village festival in Marçais in 2012.
The song was originally taken from Émile Barbillat & Laurian Touraine’s (1930) "Chansons populaires dans le bas-Berry" .
Appears on:
où allez-vous, la belle, avant soleil levé ?
où allez-vous, la belle avant soleil levé ?
je m'en vais à la messe (l'avez-vous)
entendue sonner, beau garçon jardinier?
Where do you roam, my dearie, ere the sun is in the sky?
Where do you roam, my dearie, ere the sun is in the sky?
Do you not hear the bells that ring so clear?
It’s to mass I’m going now my bonny gardener boy
Then pray hold a while, my dearie, for I would stroll along with thee
Pray hold a while, my dearie, for I would stroll along with thee
And, he’s ta’en her by the milk white hand
Into the garden midst the roses and the busy bee
Come pick a rose, my dearie, and that bloom I’ll give to thee
Come pick a rose, my dearie, and that bloom I’ll give to thee
So, she has stooped to pick the pinkest flower
And fell a-weeping midst the roses and the busy bee
Why do you weep, my dearie, come dry those tears that run so free?
Why do you weep, my dearie, come dry those tears that run so free?
I’m grieving for the loss of a tender heart
That’s been stolen midst the roses and the busy bee
Then, come mourn no more, my dearie, for I’ll I return your heart to thee
Then, come mourn no more, my dearie, for I’ll return your heart to thee
My heart is not a loan, passed to and fro,
Like some petty purse of silver, bonny gardener boy