Author Archives: arober17

03/16/25

Viens avec moi et tu verras

 

S’il est vrai que la vie sourit aux audacieux

Allons suis-moi et ne sois pas si orgueilleux

 

Refrain:

La vie t’attend, t’ouvre les bras

ne vois-tu pas là-bas, là-bas,

viens avec moi et tu verras

 

S’il est écrit que pour aimer et êtr’ heureux

On ne peut pas y arriver sans vivr’ à deux

 

Refrain

 

Suis mon conseil: Il ne faut plus y repenser

À ce chagrin que tu te dois vit’ d’oublier

 

Refrain

 

Parc’ qu’il ne faut jamais se contenter de peu

Car un peu ce n’est pas assez crois moi, mon vieux

 

Refrain

 

Il faut marcher vers l’avenir, vers le bonheur

Sans t’attarder à regarder souffrir ton coeur

 

Refrain

(moi et tu verras extended as final statement)

 

English translation:

Come with me and you’ll see

 

If it’s true that life smiles on the bold

Come follow me and don’t be so proud

 

Refrain:

Life is waiting for you, opening its arms,

don’t you see out there, out there,

come with me and you’ll see

 

If it’s written that to love and be happy

You can’t do it without living together

 

Refrain

 

Take my advice: Don’t give it another thought

To this sorrow you must live to forget

 

Refrain

 

Because you must never be satisfied with little

Because a little isn’t enough, believe me old man

 

Refrain

 

You have to walk towards the future, towards happiness

Without lingering to watch your heart suffer

 

Refrain

 

Text analysis:

S’il est vrai que la vie sourit aux audacieux (12)

Allons suis moi et ne sois pas si orgueilleux  (12)

 

Refrain:

La vie t’attend, t’ouvre les bras (8)

ne vois tu pas là bas, là bas, (8)

viens avec moi et tu verras (8)

 

S’il est écrit que pour aimer et êtr’ heureux

On ne peut pas y arriver sans vivr’ à deux

 

Suis mon conseil: Il ne faut plus y repenser

À ce chagrin que tu te dois vit’ d’oublier

 

Parc’ qu’il ne faut jamais se contenter de peu

Car un peu ce n’est pas assez crois moi, mon vieux

 

Il faut marcher vers l’avenir, vers le bonheur

Sans t’attarder à regarder souffrir ton coeur

Notes:

-March that became popular with Quebecois youth.

-The narrator is a leader, possibly romantic/seductive?

 

Setting:

-Male vocal quartet with layered texture

-Previous layers remain constant

-Modulation F-Fsharp-G-Ab-A Major. (stepwise chromatically)

-impressive chromaticism in the harmony

-12/8

 

Opens with a walking bass pizz opening

Verse and Refrain 1

Monorhythmic and monophonic singing

Offbeat chords in acoustic guitar

Verse and Refrain 2

Solo voice leads supported by with harmonic “euuu”s, counter-rhythm

Verse and Refrain 3

Monorhythmic in 4 part harmony

Accordian?

Verse and Refrain 4

Solo voice leads with marcato “la la la” accompaniment

Horn

Verse and Refrain 5

Monorhythmic in 4 part harmony

Electric guitar

 

Suggested Sources:

Viens avec moi et tu verras

Germaine Dugas:

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Deux Enfants Du Même Âge,” July 26, 2018. https://www.cshf.ca/song/deux-enfants-du-meme-age/.

Les Collégiens Troubadours:

Michel Fournier, Québec Info Musique.com et Louis Bédard (Foutchy), Oricom Internet Inc. “Québec Info Musique | Les Collégiens Troubadours.” Copyright 2012, Québec Info Musique, n.d. https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qim.com%2Fartistes%2Fbiographie.asp%3Fartistid%3D519#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url.

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/15/25

Voyageurs

The cliché, woven red arrowhead sash evokes a vivid character of perilous adventure – les voyageurs. They were mainly hired by The North West company in the fur trade industry during the 17th and 18th centuries.[1] Voyageurs and coureurs des bois were synonymous in the 17th century; both were licensed traders responsible for the exchange of goods between suppliers to Indigenous peoples. While voyageurs remained contracted by merchants or military officers with permits, coureurs des bois did not have permits and were considered outlaws once the trading licence system was implemented in 1681.[2]

The voyageurs were young French men hired to transport goods to trading posts which later developed into a supervising role, a “canoe master”. Voyageurs ensured the engagés (hired workers) would transport goods from merchant-suppliers and return to Montreal with furs. “Merchant voyageurs” were contracted for three years by merchants and military officers with established trading companies. The fur trade shifted in the 19th century; the number of engagés increased drastically and the bourgeois (often Scottish immigrants) replaced the role of the voyageur.[1]

Although the jovial voyageur folksongs and tales of exploration are romantic, they endured extreme hardship. A typical day involved paddling from 14 to 16 hours, sleeping under canoes, enduring mosquitoes, flies, and harsh elements such as the bitter cold, blistering sun, and pouring rain. During a portage, they carried approximately 170 lbs upon their backs. Their survival depended on cheerful camaraderie and supporting one another.[3]

Voyageurs had a variety of clothing attire over the centuries rather than the stereotypical red or blue tuque, arrowhead sash, moccasins, and hood produced by our collective imagination. Singing during their hard labour produced a large repertoire of tuneful songs, such as “Alouette,” “Rame rame,” and “C’est l’aviron.” Annually, events such as the Festival du Voyageur (Manitoba) are presented to celebrate the voyageurs and French-Canadian culture through exquisite cuisine, lively dance, and festive music.[4]

 

Suggested Sources:

  1. Foster, John E. , and Suzanne Gousse. “Voyageurs.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published June 07, 2007; Last Edited November 07, 2019.
  2. Wien, Tom. “Coureurs des bois.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 06, 2006; Last Edited November 07, 2019.
  1. Government of Canada. “The voyageurs.” Accessed March 6, 2025. https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/lachine/culture/histoire-history/site/voyageurs
  1. Festival du Voyageur. “Infos Générales.” Accessed March 6, 2025. https://heho.ca/festival/infos-generales/

 

Related Contents:

Rame, rame

C’est l’aviron

Alouette!

The Voyageur Song

The Voyageurs (NFB film)

01/16/25

Au chant de l’alouette

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.

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