NOTE: This is a call and response song for young adults, and functions as a cautionary tale for young women. The narrative is the singer straying from harvesting and searching for nests instead. They step on quail’s wing and argue with the bird. This bird may represent a man and an unpleasant encounter in the forest.
| Strophe | Rhyme | Line | Text |
| A | a[1] | 1 | On m’envoie au champ c’est pour y cueillir. (bis) |
| a | 2 | Je n’ai point cueilli, j’ai cherché des nids. | |
| B | b | 3 | Au chant de l’alouette je veille et je dors |
| b | 4 | J’écoute l’alouette et puis je m’endors. | |
| A | a | 2 | Je n’ai point cueilli, j’ai cherché des nids. (bis) |
| a | 5 | J’ai trouvé la caille assis sur son nid. | |
| B | b | 3 | Au chant de l’alouette je veille et je dors |
| b | 4 | J’écoute l’alouette et puis je m’endors. | |
| A | a | 5 | J’ai trouvé la caille assis sur son nid. (bis) |
| a | 6 | J’lui marché sur l’ail’ et la lui rompis. | |
| B | b | 3 | Au chant de l’alouette je veille et je dors |
| b | 4 | J’écoute l’alouette et puis je m’endors. | |
| A | a | 6** | J’lui marché sur l’ail’ et la lui rompis. (bis) |
| a | 7 | Elle m’a dit “Pucell’, retir’-toi d’ici.” | |
| B | b | 3 | Au chant de l’alouette je veille et je dors |
| b | 4 | J’écoute l’alouette et puis je m’endors. | |
| A | a | 7 | Elle m’a dit “Pucell’, retir’-toi d’ici.” (bis) |
| a | 8 | “Je n’suis pas Pucell’”, je lui répondis. | |
| B | b | 3** | Au chant de l’alouette je veille et je dors |
| b | 4*** | J’écoute l’alouette et puis je m’endors. | |
[1] “cueillir” and “nids” not a true rhyme although they sound close when sung.
Rimes: Suivies
Rhyming Scheme: Lines 3 and 4 riches. All others pauvres.
**unprepared key change from e minor to f minor (selected recording)
*** refrain repeated (selected recording)
English Translation
They send me to the field to harvest. (bis)
I didn’t pick anything, I looked for nests.
Refrain:
To the songs of the lark, I awake and I sleep
I listened to the lark then I fell asleep.
I didn’t pick, I looked for nests. (bis)
I found the quail lying on her nest.
(Refrain)
I found the quail lying on her nest. (bis)
I stepped on her wing and I broke it.
(Refrain)
I stepped on her wing and I broke it. (bis)
She said to me ‘Virgin’ go away from here.
(Refrain)
She said to me ‘Virgin’ go away from here. (bis)
“I’m no virgin,” I responded.
(Refrain)
Suggested Sources:
- NAXOS recording https://ubc-naxosmusiclibrary-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/world/catalogue/829410970662
- YouTube recording of Les Karriks (1971) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxyq6QT4A50
- Franco memory through song meaning, lyrics, translation https://web.colby.edu/memorythroughsong/au-chant-de-lalouette/
- “Au chant de l’alouette.” Franco Memory Through Song. Accessed January 15, 2025.https://web.colby.edu/memorythroughsong/au-chant-de-lalouette
- Festival du Voyageur HÉHO website https://heho.ca/au-chant-de-lalouette/
- David, Laurene. “Au chant de l’alouette – Festival du Voyageur.” Festival du Voyageur, November 30, 2022. https://heho.ca/au-chant-de-lalouette/.