Song title: La Chanson de la Grenouillère
Source: Recording from The Canadian Museum of History
| Strophe |
Rhyme |
Line |
Text |
| A |
a |
1 |
Voulez vous écouter chanter, Une chanson de verité |
|
b |
2 |
Dix-neuf des gens d’arrière, |
| B |
a |
3 |
là-bande des bois brûlés sont arrivés |
|
c |
4 |
comme des bravieri. |
| C |
d |
6 |
En arrivant de la gare nordière, |
|
e |
7 |
nous avons pris trois prisonniers. |
| D |
f |
8 |
J’avance armée, Puis quittons son armée |
|
f |
9 |
Deux sur la bande, Quatre ou cinq sont sauvés. |
|
g |
10 |
Les gouverneurs qui s’écroient l’Empereur, |
|
g |
11 |
ils l’attagisent avec rigueur |
|
h |
12 |
Les gouverneurs qui l’étaient enragés, |
|
h |
13 |
elles détachaient les soldats tirés. |
| E |
i |
14 |
Le premier coup, |
|
g |
15 |
c’est l’Anglais que a tiré l’ambassadeur. |
|
j |
16 |
Il a menté tué. |
|
k |
17 |
Si vous avez vu ces Anglais, des tous ces bois brûlés après, |
| B |
l |
18 |
de bête en bête, les Anglais tuent vite les bois brûlés |
|
m |
19 |
en chantant des cris des joies. |
| D |
n |
20 |
Il a composé la chanson |
|
n |
21 |
Pierre et Falcon, ce bon garçon |
| A |
o |
23 |
À l’altifète que composé, chantons la gloire |
|
p |
24 |
que nous avons gagné. |
| B |
o |
25 |
À l’altifète qui compose, sur la victoire |
|
p |
24 |
que nous avons gagné. |
Note: I used any2text.com to transcribe this song as I cannot understand French and was not able to find the lyrics online.
*I am not confident about the strophes labelling here nor some of the lyrics as I know AI isn’t too accurate
English Translation from here: Lyrics Source (also cited in suggested sources)
Would you care to hear sung
A song of truth?
Last June 19th,
The band of Bois-brûlés arrived —
A band of brave warriors.
When we got to la Grenouillère,
We took three prisoners.
We had surrounded
Almost all of their army below the hill;
Only four or five of them escaped.
The governor, imagining himself an emperor,
Responded harshly.
The governor, filled with rage,
Told his soldiers — Fire!
The first shot
Was fired by the English. Our ambassador,
Was nearly killed.
You should have seen the English
And all the Bois-brûlés chasing them!
From hill to hill,
The English fell. The Bois-brûlés
Shouted for joy!
Who composed this song?
Good old Pierriche Falcon!
It was written
And composed to sing of the glory
That was ours.
It was written
And composed to sing of the victory
That was ours
Commentary
1 “La Chanson de la Grenouillère,” or “The Song of Frog Plain,” goes beyond a catchy tune—it’s a powerful ballad with deep historical roots, crafted by Métis poet and Northwest Company clerk Pierre Falcon (1793–1876). This song pays tribute to the Métis victory at the Battle of Seven Oaks on June 19, 1816, which stands as a key moment in Métis history. Falcon’s song is an early celebration of Métis identity and strength, displaying their resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics vividly recount the battle, emphasizing the courage of the Métis fighters and the strategic blunders of their opponents. One of the emphasizes in the song is how the Métis outmaneuvered the enemy, eventually leading to their major victory.
1 The Battle of Seven Oaks happened during a time of rising tension between the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the Northwest Company (NWC), both vying for dominance in the fur trade around the Red River Valley. The Métis, who were allied with the NWC, were frustrated with the HBC’s restrictive practices that threatened their livelihoods and way of life. When the dust settled at Seven Oaks, the HBC had lost 21 men, including Governor Robert Semple, while the Métis faced only minor losses.
Right from the start, the song invites listeners to tune in to a “song of truth,” promising an authentic retelling of the battle. The Métis warriors, fondly called “Bois-Brûlés,” are depicted as heroic and clever, making tactical moves to capture prisoners and outflank their foes. In contrast, the governor is portrayed as a bit of a braggart, thinking of himself as an emperor, which proves to be a costly mistake. This portrayal really drives home the song’s message about Métis unity and their determination to resist outside control. The song’s lyrics radiate bravery and defiance, detailing the courage displayed by the Métis in the face of violent confrontations. For instance, the line “le premier coup, c’est l’Anglais qui a tiré l’ambassadeur,” which translates to “the first shot is the English who shot the ambassador,” captures an important moment in their fight for survival and rights. This imagery paints a vivid picture of the physical battles while also simplifying psychological impacts of conflict on the Métis community.
2 “La Chanson de la Grenouillère” is typically sung in a folk style that reflects the oral traditions of the Métis culture. You’ll often hear it sung a cappella or possibly accompanied by simple instruments like the fiddle or guitar—both of which are essential to Métis musical heritage. The melody is lively and rhythmic, making it perfect for community gatherings where singing and dancing unite people and strengthen their bonds.
Related Sources
Cass-Beggs, Barbara. Seven Metis Songs of Saskatchewan. 2025. BMI Canada Limited, 1967, pp. 5–26.
Chartrand, Margaret, and Denise Ménard. “Pierre Falcon.” Www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 21 Feb. 2008, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pierre-falcon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Giroux, Monique. “Singing for Frog Plain.” Ethnologies, vol. 37, no. 1, May 2017, pp. 43–64, https://doi.org/10.7202/1039655ar. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Ingraham, Mary I., and Robert C. Rival. Reflections on Malcolm Forsyth. 2025. University of Alberta, 2019, pp. 49–77.
Suggested Sources
Canadian Museum of History. “La Chanson de La Grenouillère.” Teachers’ Zone | Canadian Museum of History, 1957, www.historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/think-like-a-historian-working-with-primary-source-evidence/audio/la-chanson-de-la-grenouillere/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
References
- Barkwell, Lawrence. “Bataille de La Grenouillère | l’Encyclopédie Canadienne.” Www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 7 Feb. 2006, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/seven-oaks-incident-de. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
- Canadian Geographic. “Music and Dance.” Indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca, 25 Sept. 2018, indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/article/music-and-dance/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
- Canadian Geographic. Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. 2025. Canadian Geographic, 2018.
- Wright, Heather. “La Dernière Bataille de La Grenouillère – Histoire Canada.” Histoirecanada.ca, 1 Jan. 2019, www.histoirecanada.ca/consulter/paix-et-conflit/la-derniere-bataille-de-la-grenouillere. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
