Dans les jardins de mon père les lauriers sont fleuris. (bis) Tous les oiseaux du monde Qu’il fait bon dormir. Auprès de ma blonde, Qu’il fait bon, fait bon, fait bon, Auprès de ma blonde, Qu’il fait bon dormir. La caill’, la tourterelle Et la jolie perdrix (bis) Et ma jolie colombe Qui chante jour et nuit. Auprès de ma blonde, etc. Ell’ chante pour les filles Qui n’ont pas de mari. (bis) Pour moi ne chante guère, Car j’en ai un joli. Auprès de ma blonde, etc. Il est dans la Hollande, les Hollandais l’ont pris. (bis) "Que donn’riez-vous, la belle, Pour le voir revenir?" Auprès de ma blonde, etc. Je donnerais Versailles, Paris et Saint Denis, (bis) Les tours de Babylone, La cloch’ de mon pays! Auprès de ma blonde, etc. -------------------------------- In the gardens of my father The laurel is in bloom. (twice) All the birds in the world Come there to make their nests. Next to my fair-haired lady, How good it is, it is, it is, Next to my fair-haired lady, How good it is to sleep. The quail, the turtle-dove, And the pretty partridge (twice), And my pretty dove Who sings day and night. Next to my fair-haired, etc. She is singing for the girls Who don’t have a husband. (twice) For me she is scarcely singing, For I have a pretty one. Next to my fair-haired, etc. He is in Holland, The Hollanders have taken him (prisoner). “What would you give, lovely one, To see him return?” Next to my fair-haired, etc. I would give Versailles, Paris and St-Denis (twice), The towers of Babylon, The bell of my parish church! Next to my fair-haired, etc.
^ The text was inspired by Louis XIV’s campaign against Holland (1672-78),
during which French soldiers were taken prisoner. It is attributed to an
André Joubert du Collet, who was a prisoner of the Dutch for two years,
during which he supposedly wrote the song in honor of his wife. It became
a popular marching-song.
* You will observe that the speaker in the verses (a woman) is not the same
as the speaker in the refrain (a man).