Tag Archives: Partons la mer est belle

01/16/25

Partons, la mer est belle

NOTE: The oldest version in a published collection dates from 1891 and was titled “L’étoile du marin.” There are over 70 versions of the song collected in Canadian sources and there are many variants.

As the song contains many textual variants, the lyrics align with the version found here (except the last couplet, which has been ommitted):

Strophe Rime Vers Texte
A a 1 Amis, partons sans bruit;
b 2 La pêche sera bonne,
b 3 La lune qui rayonne
a 4 Éclairera la nuit.
A’ c 5 Il faut qu’avant l’aurore
d 6 Nous soyons de retour,
c 7 Pour sommeiller encore
d 8 Avant qu’il soit grand jour.
B e 9  Partons, la mer est belle;
f 10 Embarquons-nous, pêcheurs,
e 11 Guidons notre nacelle,
f 12 Ramons avec ardeur.
g 13 Aux mâts hissons les voiles,
h 14  Le ciel est pur et beau;
g 15 Je vois briller l’étoile
h 16 Qui guide les matelots.
A i 17 Ainsi chantait mon père
j 18 Quand il quitta le port,
i 19 Il ne s’attendait guère
j 20 À y trouver la mort!
A’ k 21 Par le vent, par l’orage,
l 22 Il fut surpris soudain
k 23 Dans un cruel naufrage,
l 24 Il subit le destin.
B e 9 Partons, la mer est belle;
f 10 Embarquons-nous, pêcheurs,
e 11 Guidons notre nacelle,
f 12 Ramons avec ardeur.
g 13 Aux mâts hissons les voiles,
h 14 Le ciel est pur et beau;
g 15 Je vois briller l’étoile
h 16 Qui guide les matelots.
A i 25 Je n’ai plus qu’une mère
l 26 Qui ne possède rien.
i 27 Elle est dans la misère
l 28 Et n’a que mon soutien.
m 29 Ramons, ramons bien vite.
A’ n 30 Oh, je la vois là-bas;
m 31 Je vais courir de suite
n 32 Me jeter dans ses bras.
B e 9 Partons, la mer est belle;
f 10 Embarquons-nous, pêcheurs,
e 11 Guidons notre nacelle,
f 12 Ramons avec ardeur.
g 13 Aux mâts hissons les voiles,
h 14 Le ciel est pur et beau;
g 15 Je vois briller l’étoile
h 16 Qui guide les matelots.

Song Type: A seafaring song, perhaps also a work song.

Context: As the main recording attests, a song sung during gatherings, maybe during holidays.

Narrative: The song opens as the narrators’ father suggests that a group of fishermen go out to fish at night. He would like to be back before dawn to get a good night’s rest before the next day begins. As they launch, they notice that the sky is clear and the waters are calm. They use a star (probably the North Star), to guide their navigation.

In the second couplet, the narrator reveals that the previous text was spoken/sung by his father. The narrator continues the story, explaining that a storm arose without warning and that the men died in a shipwreck.

The third couplet is a bit ambiguous. Did the narrator accompany their father on the trip and survived? The story continues, now in the perspective of the narrator thinking of his mother who has nothing and cannot live without his help. He wants to return to shore as fast as possible to meet his mother in a loving embrace.

This is a somber song that speaks about the dangers of navigating the sea, but also highlights the importance of loving and cherishing the people that mean the most in our lives.

Suggested sources:

Related links:

Acadie (Acadia)

Partons, la mer est belle (analysis)

Acadian Music