Since the lyrics for Germaine which I provided a link for in the RR blog are in French, here is an English translation with the speakers noted. Follow along these lyrics with the song and it will make the song more meaningful knowing what they're saying.
The song again, is at http://www.imeem.com/406ci/music/eH0NHyXq/garolou_germaine/
This is a great piece of drama as well as a great piece of music - possibly my favorite song of all time.
Forgot to post the lyrics. Here they are:
ReplyDeleteNarrator:
Germaine, beautiful Germaine, busy spinning her flax
Germaine, beautiful Germaine, busy spinning her flax
In her street she met three jolly cavaliers
Who asked Germaine if she was a single girl available for marriage
Germaine:
I am not a single girl, a single girl to marry
I am not a single girl, a single girl to marry
I was married when I was fifteen and a half
It's been more than seven years since my husband left
Three cavaliers (to the step-mother):
Ah good day madame, may we lodge here?
Ah good day madame, may we lodge here?
It's in honor of Prince Amboise of Amboisie
The handsomest man of arms in the country.
Step-mother:
Ah good day Germaine, staying with us are three cavaliers
Ah good day Germaine, staying with us are three cavaliers
But they don't want to drink, neither drink nor eat
They just want to have Germanine at their side.
Germaine:
Oh mother, wicked mother, get away from here.
Oh mother, wicked mother, get away from here.
If you weren't the mother, the mother of my husband
I would throw you off the drawbridge
Prince Amboise:
Let's go dear friends, our horses are saddled
Let's go dear friends, our horses are saddled
At the table of Germaine I want to go and eat
In the bed of Germaine I want to lie down
Prince Amboise:
Germaine, beautiful Germaine, open up, it's your husband
Germaine, beautiful Germaine, open up, it's your husband
Germaine:
No I won't believe that you're my husband
Until you tell me the on which we wed
Prince Amboise:
Then remember Germaine, the seventeenth in the morning
You had at the nuptials your uncles and your cousins
Germaine:
No I won't believe that you're my husband
Until you tell me what horse I had that day.
Prince Amboise:
Then remember Germaine, your horse from Paris.
Then remember Germaine, your dress of grey satin.
Germaine:
Oh no, I don't believe that you are my husband.
Give me what you showed me on our first night.
Prince Amboise:
Then remember Germaine, your golden rings united
Then remember Germaine, your golden rings united
I squeezed you so tight, so tight in my arms
That your ring broke, Germaine here it is!
Germaine (to servants):
Servants, faithful servants, come here quickly
Light the candles at the four corners of the bed
I'm going to open the door wide for my husband
That's
ReplyDeleteUntil you tell me the day on which we wed
in the 7th verse
Promise I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteValuable resource of lyrics news summaries: http://ng2000.com/ng2000bb/YaBB.pl?num=1221882147
ReplyDelete