Le bonhomme frappe à la porte (AU1998-1075-017)
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“Le bonhomme frappe à la porte“, (“The guy knocked at the door“) is the song commonly known in Québec as “Le Rapide blanc,” created by the singer/songwriter Oscar Thiffault (1912-1998). Thiffault, born in Estrie, Quebec, lived for most of his life in Ste-Étienne-des-Grès (north of Trois-Rivières). He got his start singing at a very early age in a variety of folklore ensembles and country-and-western bands.
Drawing from the repertory of Quebec traditional song themes, motifs, and structures with which he grew up, Thiffault began making up original songs about current events (with the occasional bawdy ballad and drinking song) at an early age and continued doing so throughout his life. He also often borrowed his melodies from the repertory of well-known traditional French-Canadian songs, but also borrowed occasionally from popular commercial song melodies as well.
After having worked in logging shanties and textile factories for most of his life, Thiffault finally landed a hit song in 1954 (Apex label: 17084, side B) with “Le Rapide blanc,” his recasting of an ancient French ballad, “Le moine tremblant et la dame,” the earliest known printing of which dates back to 1602. Thiffault came up with this new twist on the original song’s narrative (about a monk who makes an amorous house call to a willing wife during her husband’s absence) in 1935 when he was working on the construction of a Hydro-Québec Dam in Rapide-Blanc on the St-Maurice River (north of La Tuque, Quebec). The song was an instant hit and has been recorded over and over in subsequent generations.
From 1954 to the end of his life, Thiffault was an indefatigable touring artist who built up a big fan base in Quebec, singing his original songs about topical themes such as Sputnik, hockey players, parking meters, and television. His blend of original lyrics inspired by French-Canadian traditional song with a side order of country-and-western gained him a loyal following until the end of his life.
In Alberta Gagné’s setting there is no mention of the Rapide Blanc hydroelectric station; instead, the absent husband is out in the fields. Her version also omits the verse in which the male protagonist asks to embrace her.
Abstract
The lady asks what he wants,
“Ah, M’am, I’d like to come in.”
Once he came in,
The lady asks what he wants.
“Ah M’am, I’d like to warm up.”
Once he warmed up,
The lady asks what he wants.
“Ah, M’am, I’d like to go to bed.”
Once he went to bed,
The lady asks what he wants.
“Ah, M’am, I’d like to get up again.”
Once he rose,
The lady asks what he wants.
“Ah, Ma’m, I’d like to leave.”
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AG: le bonhomme frappe a la porte.
[BEGIN SINGING]
Le bonhomm’ frappe à la porte,
À wing à hein, a wing à hein,
La bonne femme lui demande ce qu’il voulait, ce qu’il souhaitait,
« Ah, je voudrais, madame, je voudrais bien rentrer. »
« Ben rentrez donc bien hardiment, mon mari est parti aux champs,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui rentrent pis qui rentrent,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui rentrent, pis ça m'fait rien. »
Après qu'il est entré,
À wing à hein, a wing à hein,
La bonne femme lui demande ce qu’il voulait, ce qu’il souhaitait,
« Ah, je voudrais, madame, je voudrais bien me chauffer.
« Chauffez donc bien hardiment, mon mari est parti aux champs,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui se chauffent pis qui se chauffent,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui sechauffent, pis ça m'fait rien. »
Après qu’il fut chauffé,
À wing à hein, a wing à hein,
La bonne femme lui demande ce qu’il voulait, ce qu’il souhaitait,
« Ah, je voudrais, madame, je voudrais bien me coucher. »
« Couchez donc bien hardiment, mon mari est parti aux champs,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui se couchent, pis qui se couchent,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui se couchent, pis ça m'fait rien. »
Après qu’il fut couché,
À wing à hein, a wing à hein,
La bonne femme lui demande ce qu’il voulait, ce qu’il souhaitait,
« Ah, je voudrais, madame, je voudrais bien me r’lever. »
« Ben relèves donc bien hardiment, mon mari est parti aux champs,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui relèvent pis qui relèvent,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui relèvent, pis qui s’font rien. »
Après qu’il fut couché,
À wing à hein, a wing à hein,
La bonne femme lui demande ce qu’il voulait, ce qu’il souhaitait,
« Ah, je voudrais, madame, je voudrais bien m’en aller. »
« Sapres ton camp bien hardiment, mon mari est parti aux champs,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui s’en r’tournent, pis qui qui s’en r’tournent,
Y as-tu pas des hommes qui s‘en r’tournent, qui font rien. »
[END SINGING]
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