Le petit mousse (MS2011-3223-030)
Dublin Core
Title
Le petit mousse (MS2011-3223-030)
Alternative Title
Le petit mousse noir
Subject
Description
French language song text from VFC2006-0002 Beaudoin Family Collection. MS2011-3223-030 Alice Lacourse Danis Songbook. Pp. 28.
“Le petit mousse” (“The Little Cabin Boy”). This is a fragmentary version of the French sentimental song, “Le petit mousse noir” (“The Little Black Cabin Boy”) from ca. 1844, with music by by Pierre-Jacques Cheret (aka Pierre-Jacques Lachaume, 1793-1864) and words by Marc Constantin (1810-1888). The earliest known printed setting of this song was published by chez Chabal in Paris ca. 1844. Constantin, in addition to being a poet, writer, journalist, librettist and playwright, was also a prolific songwriter, with more than 400 songs to his credit.
In 1906, Around 1927, Montreal tenor Édouard LeBel (1865-1939) recorded a setting of this song for the Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co. of Montreal (issue # 3606; matrix # B3984). In 1926, Montreal baritone Louis Chartier recorded a setting for the Brunswick label (issue # 3417; matrix # D20642). You can hear Chartier’s recording on Library and Archives Canada’s website, The Virtual Gramophone: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/virtual-gramophone/Pages/Item.aspx?idNumber=1007656122
“Le petit mousse” (“The Little Cabin Boy”). This is a fragmentary version of the French sentimental song, “Le petit mousse noir” (“The Little Black Cabin Boy”) from ca. 1844, with music by by Pierre-Jacques Cheret (aka Pierre-Jacques Lachaume, 1793-1864) and words by Marc Constantin (1810-1888). The earliest known printed setting of this song was published by chez Chabal in Paris ca. 1844. Constantin, in addition to being a poet, writer, journalist, librettist and playwright, was also a prolific songwriter, with more than 400 songs to his credit.
In 1906, Around 1927, Montreal tenor Édouard LeBel (1865-1939) recorded a setting of this song for the Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co. of Montreal (issue # 3606; matrix # B3984). In 1926, Montreal baritone Louis Chartier recorded a setting for the Brunswick label (issue # 3417; matrix # D20642). You can hear Chartier’s recording on Library and Archives Canada’s website, The Virtual Gramophone: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/virtual-gramophone/Pages/Item.aspx?idNumber=1007656122
Abstract
A young black slave cabin boy yearns for his mother and home; refrain: sail, sail my ship, because happiness awaits me there.
Source
VFC2006-0002 Beaudoin Family Collection. MS2011-3223 Alice Lacourse Danis Songbook. Vermont Folklife Center Archive, Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America.
Song Item Type Metadata
Supplied Title
Le petit mousse
Tranlsated Title
The Little Cabin Boy
First Line
Sur le grand mat d’une corvette un petit mous un soir
Scribe
Composer
Pierre-Jacques Cheret
Lyricist
Marc Constantin
Transcription
Sur le grand mat d’une corvette un petit mous un soir
Chantait il redisait l’ame inquiete c’est mots qu’au loin
Le vent portrait qui me rendra ton doux sourire
Heureuse mere ouvrant tes bras
Refrain
Filez filez o mon navire car le bonheur m’attend la bas (repetez)
2
Quand je partit ma bonne mere me dit tu vas sous autres cieux
Ton cher village et ta chaumiere se sont bientot loin de tes yeux
Quand tu sera sur le navire tu m’ecrira souvent mon gars
Refrain
3
J’etais heureux petite mere quand je vivais aupres de toi pourquoi
Faut-il que la misere m’ait eloigne de notre toit bientot
J’espere un jour la luire ou ton enfant te reviendra
4
Ainsi chantait le petit mousse sur le grand mat au bruit des flots
Chantait il redisait l’ame inquiete c’est mots qu’au loin
Le vent portrait qui me rendra ton doux sourire
Heureuse mere ouvrant tes bras
Refrain
Filez filez o mon navire car le bonheur m’attend la bas (repetez)
2
Quand je partit ma bonne mere me dit tu vas sous autres cieux
Ton cher village et ta chaumiere se sont bientot loin de tes yeux
Quand tu sera sur le navire tu m’ecrira souvent mon gars
Refrain
3
J’etais heureux petite mere quand je vivais aupres de toi pourquoi
Faut-il que la misere m’ait eloigne de notre toit bientot
J’espere un jour la luire ou ton enfant te reviendra
4
Ainsi chantait le petit mousse sur le grand mat au bruit des flots
Files
Collection
Citation
“Le petit mousse (MS2011-3223-030),” Vermont Folklife Center Digital Collections, accessed December 5, 2025, https://vtfolklifearchive.org/collections/items/show/796.
Position: 1453 (494 views)