Quand Je Menais Les Chevaux Boire 18th century traditional French (Normandie,Bretagne) song.
Le Poème Harmonique is a musical ensemble formed by Vincent Dumestre in 1998 mostly playing 17-18th century French and Italian songs.
Quand je menai mes chevaux boire Ilaire,
ilaire, itou, ilaire Ilaire,
oh ma Nanette Quand je menai mes chevaux boire
Jentendis le coucou chanter
Il me disait dans son langage Ilaire, ilaire, itou, ilaire Ilaire, oh ma Nanette
Il me disait dans son langage
Ta bien aimée vont lenterrer
Ah ! que dis-tu , méchante bête
Jétais près delle hier au soir
Mais quand je fus dedans la lande Jentendis les cloches sonner
Mais quand je fus dedans léglise
Jentendis les prêtres chanter Donnais du pied dedans la chasse
Réveillez-vous si vous dormez
Non je ne dors ni ne sommeille
Je vous attends dedans lenfer
Vois ma bouche est pleine de terre
Et la tienne est pleine damour Auprès de moi reste une place
Et cest pour toi quon la gardée
Translation in the booklet: As I was taking the horses to water As I was taking the horses to water I heard the cuckoo sing, It told me in its language: They are going to bury your beloved. -Ah, what are you saying, wicked bird?I was with her last evening. But when I was on the heath I heard the bell ringing, And when I was in the church I heard the priests singing. I gave the reliquary a kick: Wake up if you are asleep! -No,I am netiher asleep nor dozing: I am awaiting you in hell. See, my mouth is full of earth and yours is full of love, There’s a place beside me and it has been kept for you.