La belle Françoise [first line] (AU1998-1072-005)

Dublin Core

Title

La belle Françoise [first line] (AU1998-1072-005)

Description

Excerpt from interview of Alberta Gagné (TC1998-1072-005) by Martha Pellerin. Part of a project (VFC1998-0007) on Franco-American song in New England funded by the Vermont Folklife Center and undertaken by Pellerin. Interview is one in a series of six conducted between 1995-01-09 and 1995-12-06 as an effort to document the French language song repertoire of Gagné.

“La belle Françoise” (”Lovely Françoise “) is one of the most widely documented traditional songs in Quebec dating back to the mid 17th century. Its roots go back to France, where it has been widely collected. The documentation of versions from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Missouri attest to its wide circulation in French North America.

Alberta Gagné’s version presents the most widespread melody and refrains.

Abstract

It’s lovely Françoise who wants to get married; her lover visits her just after supper; he finds her alone, on her bed, weeping; “What’s with you, sweetheart? What makes you cry?” “They told me last night that you are going to war;” “Those who said so spoke truly;” “Take me to the foot of the rock.” “When I get back from the war, I will marry you.”

Source

VFC1998-0007 Martha Pellerin Collection. TC1998-1072 interview with Alberta Gagné. Vermont Folklife Center Archive, Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America.

Date

Rights

Copyright (c) Vermont Folklife Center

Relation

Full Interview: vfc1998-0005_tc1998-1072

Language

fra

Identifier

vfc1998-0007_tc1998-1072-001a-005

Song Item Type Metadata

Supplied Title

La belle Françoise

Standard Title Reference

La belle Françoise (pro parte) I, B-09
Le pucelage ne se rend pas comme de l'argent prêté 03412

First Line

C'est la belle Françoise longué, c'est la belle Françoise

Transcription

(BEGIN SINGING)

[same refrain structure throughout]

C'est la belle Françoise,

Lon gai,

C'est la belle Françoise.
Qui veut se marier.

Maluron lurette,

Qui veut se marier.

            Maluron luré.


Son amant va la voir,
Bientôt après l’souper.

ll le trouva seulette,

Sur son lit qui pleurait.

« Qu'avez-vous donc, la belle ?
Car vous entend pleurer. »

« On m'a dit hier au soir,

Car à la guerre, vous alliez. »

 

« Ceux qui vous l'ont dit, belle,

Ont dit la vérité. »

 

« Venez me reconduire,

Jusqu'au pied du rocher. »


« Au retour de la guerre,

Je vous épouserai. »


(END SINGING)

Translation

laisse, six-syllable lines, eight verses, (“é” end-rhyme)

Interviewer

Original Format

sound cassette (analog)

Files

vfc1998-0007_tc1998-1072-001a_005.mp3

Citation

“La belle Françoise [first line] (AU1998-1072-005),” Vermont Folklife Center Digital Collections, accessed October 17, 2024, https://vtfolklifearchive.org/collections/items/show/305.

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