French Folk Song - Belle Nanon (Unknown Artist) 1980s video free download

This rather haunting song is from the tape from which I uploaded "M'en Suis Allé Aux Noces" 4 years ago.That song turned out to be from Brittany, so this may have the same connection. Many thanks to 'frenchrescue' for giving us the lyrics and translation. I have lost these lyrics since I had to take my original video down last year.

But I have enclosed below the original lyrics of the song. The singer here does not sing these lyrics exactly, but in part. I have re-made this video following the storyline of the song. A young man leaves his lover to go off to war for six years. He realistically worries that others will replace him. She thinks not.

1. Je m'en fus à sa porte,

Trois petits coups frapper.

Je m'en fus à sa porte,

Trois petits coups frapper.

«Ah, dormez-vous, sommeillez-vous,

Belle Nanon?

Si vous dormez, réveillez-vous;

C'est votre amant qui parle à vous.»

2. La belle prend sa chandelle,

Elle prend son jupon blanc,

Elle va ouvrir la porte

À son fidèle amant.

Elle prit le tas entre ses bras,

En lui disant:

«Elle pris le tas entre ses bras

En lui disant mon cher amant.»

3. Cessez, cessez, la belle;

Vous me faites me mourir.

Le régiment m'appelle;

Il faut lui obéir.

Je suis engagé pour six ans

Au régiment.

Je suis engagé pour six ans;

«O, adieu donc, belle Nanon.»

4. Elle lui répond, la belle:

«Six ans - c'est bien longtemps.

A qui contrai - j'mes peines,

Mes chagrins, mes tourments?

Je m'en irai là-bas, bien loin

Dedans les bois.

Je m'en irai là-bas, bien loin,

En regrettant mon cher amant.

5. Les garçons du village ne savant pas faire l'amour;

Toujours les mêmes paroles,

Toujours les mêmes discours.

Ils vous diront de temps en temps:

«Belle Nanon,

Ne pleurez pas sur votre amant

Car il est mort au régiment.»

6. Les garçons d'alentour ils sont des forts beaux garçons;

Ils vous feront l'amour,

Le soir, en attendant.

N'sont pas comme toi, mon cher amant,

Quand tu reviens;

N'sont pas comme toi, mon cher amant,

Car il y a toujours du changement.»

English Translation of the above lyrics.

I was at his door,

Three small strokes hit .

I was at his door,

Three small strokes hit .

" Oh, do you sleep , you snooze ,

Beautiful Nanon ?

If you sleep , wake up ;

This is your lover who speaks to you. "

2 . Beautiful takes his candle ,

She takes her white petticoat ,

It will open the door

In her faithful lover .

She took the job in his arms,

Saying:

"She took the job in his arms

Telling him my dear lover. "

3 . Stop , stop , beautiful ;

You kill me me .

The regiment called me ;

We must obey him.

I am committed to six years

The regiment.

I am committed for six years;

" O, farewell then, Nanon beautiful . "

4 . She replied , beautiful :

" Six years - it's very long.

Who contrary - j'mes sentences

My sorrows, my torments ?

I go there , far

In the woods .

I go there , far away,

Regretting my dear lover.

5 . The village boys learned not only to love;

Always the same words,

Always the same speech.

They will tell you from time to time :

" Beautiful Nanon

Do not weep for your lover

Because he died in the regiment . "

6 . Boys around they are strong beautiful boys ;

They will love you ,

Night , waiting .

N'sont not like you , my dear lover,

When you come back ;

N'sont not like you , my dear lover,

Because there is always change. "