4 February

Pierre

Cadet Rousselle is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the French Revolution that gently mocks an eccentric man from Auxerre in Burgundy who really existed.

The story of the song

It is known that it was the author of spiritual and satirical songs Gaspard de Chenu who wrote the song in 1792, to the tune of Jean de Nivelle.

Gaspard de Chenu wrote his song parodying that of Jean de Nivelle, which had been very popular in France since the end of the 15th century.

The song did not seem destined to spread beyond the boundaries of Auxerre. However, as the Auxerre enlisted men took it with them to the army, the soldiers adopted it enthusiastically and it became the song of the French Revolutionary Armies.

It subsequently spread to all classes of French society, where its popularity gradually eclipsed its model, the song Jean de Nivelle.

A popular song in the 19th century

The song did not seem destined to spread beyond the boundaries of Auxerre. However, as the Auxerre enlisted men took it with them to the army, the soldiers adopted it enthusiastically and it became the song of the French Revolutionary Army.

Cadet Rousselle - Armée du Rhin 1793

Armée du Rhin in 1793

It subsequently spread to all classes of French society, where its popularity gradually eclipsed its model, the song Jean de Nivelle.

In his 1874 novel Ninety-Three, Victor Hugo has Danton mock Robespierre for monopolising the floor at the Convention for two hours:

Cadet Rousselle fait des discours
Qui ne sont pas longs quand ils sont courts.

(Cadet Rousselle made speeches
That are not long when they are short.)

Then, the Russian compositor Tchaikovsky used the song in his ballet The Nutcracker.

Who was Cadet Rousselle?

Guillaume Joseph Rousselle (1743-1807) was a French bailiff from the town of Auxerre in Burgundy whose eccentricity was gently mocked in the song that bears his name.

Auxerre Cathedral © Pline - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Auxerre Cathedral © Pline - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

In the year following his appointment as bailiff in Auxerre, he bought a small, quirky house near the clock tower and had a narrow loggia added above an old porch.

The curious appearance of his home is as striking as the character of the man who is said to be jovial, bon vivant and a little eccentric, but who enjoys the sympathy of his fellow citizens. 

This probably explains why this eccentric character inspired Gaspard de Chenu to compose the famous song.

About the song

Easy to memorize, the melody is joyful and bouncy.

In the tone of a joke, the various quirks of the character are the subject of as many couplets. Each verse is composed of four octosyllables (ie. a verse of eight syllables).

Each of the verses is usually about an element that the character is supposed to possess in triplicate. This element is often mentioned in the first line. The character has:

  • three boys, etc.
  • three big cats, etc.
  • three hats, etc.

In the manner of a burst of laughter, the chorus reminds us that, despite his peculiarities (or perhaps because of them), the character enjoys the sympathy of his fellow citizens.

Cadet Rousselle

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

Cadet Rousselle

The lyrics in French

The original song of Cadet Rousselle has 10 verses and a chorus.

Couplet 1

Cadet Rousselle a trois maisons, (bis)
Qui n'ont ni poutres, ni chevrons, (bis)
C'est pour loger les hirondelles,
Que direz-vous d'Cadet Rousselle ?


Refrain

Ah ! Ah ! Ah ! Oui, vraiment,
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant !


Couplet 2

Cadet Rousselle a trois habits, (bis)
Deux jaunes, l'autre en papier gris, (bis)
Il met celui-ci quand il gèle,
Ou quand il pleut, ou quand il grêle.


Couplet 3

Cadet Rousselle a trois chapeaux, (bis)
Les deux ronds ne sont pas très beaux. (bis)
Et le troisième est à deux cornes,
De sa tête, il a pris la forme.


Couplet 4

Cadet Rousselle a trois souliers, (bis)
Il en met deux dans ses deux pieds ; (bis)
Le troisième n'a pas de semelle,
Il s'en sert pour chausser sa belle.


Couplet 5

Cadet Rousselle a trois cheveux, (bis)
Deux pour la face, un pour la queue, (bis)
Et quand il va voir sa maîtresse,
Il les met tous les trois en tresse.


Couplet 6

Cadet Rousselle a trois gros chiens, (bis)
L'un court au lièvre, l'autre au lapin ; (bis)
Le troisième fuit quand on l'appelle,
Tout comme le chien de Jean de Nivelle.


Couplet 7

Cadet Rousselle a trois beaux chats, (bis)
Qui n'attrapent jamais les rats ; (bis)
Le troisième n'a pas de prunelle,
Il monte au grenier sans chandelle.


Couplet 8

Cadet Rousselle a marié (bis)
Ses trois filles dans trois quartiers ; (bis)
Les deux premières sont moins que belles,
La troisième n'a pas de cervelle.


Couplet 9

Cadet Rousselle a trois deniers, (bis)
C'est pour payer ses créanciers ; (bis)
Quand il a montré ses ressources,
Il les resserre dans sa bourse.


Couplet 10

Cadet Rousselle ne mourra pas, (bis)
Car avant de sauter le pas, (bis)
On dit qu'il apprend l'orthographe,
Pour faire lui même son épitaphe

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Cadet Rousselle has three houses, (bis)
That have no beams, no rafters, (bis)
It's to house the swallows,
What will you say about Cadet Rousselle?


Chorus

Ah! Ah! Ah! Yes, really,

Cadet Rousselle is a good fellow!


Verse 2

Cadet Rousselle has three clothes, (bis)
Two yellow ones, the other made of grey paper, (bis)
He puts this one on when it's freezing,
Or when it rains, or when it hails.


Verse 3

Cadet Rousselle has three hats, (bis)
The two round ones are not very nice (bis)
And the third one has two horns,
Of his head, he has taken the shape.


Verse 4

Cadet Rousselle has three shoes, (bis)
He puts two in his two feet; (bis)
The third has no sole,
He uses them to put on his beautiful one.


Verse 5

Cadet Rousselle has three hairs, (bis)
Two for the face, one for the tail, (bis)
And when he goes to see his mistress,
He puts all three in a braid.


Verse 6

Cadet Rousselle has three big dogs, (bis)
One runs after the hare, the other after the rabbit; (bis)
The third runs away when called,
Just like Jean de Nivelle's dog.


Verse 7

Cadet Rousselle has three beautiful cats, (bis)
Who never catch rats; (bis)
The third has no eye,
He goes up to the attic without a candle.


Verse 8

Cadet Rousselle married (bis)
His three daughters in three quarters; (bis)
The first two are less than beautiful,
The third has no brains.


Verse 9

Cadet Rousselle has three deniers, (bis)
It is to pay his creditors; (bis)
When he has shown his resources,
He tightens them in his purse.


Verse 10

Cadet Rousselle will not die, (bis)
For before he takes the plunge, (bis)
They say he's learning to spell,
To make his own epitaph.

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Cadet Rousselle © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover