25 February

Pierre

Chevaliers de la table ronde (also known as Goûtons voir si le vin est bon) is a traditional French song from the 18th century, although the current lyrics date from the beginning of the 20th century.

Please note: the lyrics of the song may not be appropriate for young children! 😊

The story of the song

Chevaliers de la table ronde is a popular drinking song sung in French-speaking countries: in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Val d'Aoste (Italy) and Canada.

The song was present in 18th-century peddler's books. It is based on an earlier song, La Femme ivrogne (the drunk woman) which was transcribed into dialect of the Bresse region in 1749.

Its lyrics include the verse:

"Si je me meur, que l'on m'enterre dans la cave où est le vin, les pieds contre la muraille, la tête sous le robin". 

(If I die, let them bury me in the cellar where the wine is, my feet against the wall, my head under the tap.)

Who were the Knights of the Round Table?

The Knights of the Round Table are a legendary order in the service of King Arthur, who charged them with leading the quest for the Holy Grail and ensuring the peace of the kingdom.

The first written record of the legend of the Knights of the Round Table is found in the Roman de Brut written by the Norman poet Wace in 1155. In French literature, the works of Chrétien de Troyes at the end of the 11th century had a major influence on the spread of the Arthurian legend.

Round Table reproduction from 1470

The round table of the knights. Reproduction from 1470

The Round Table at which they meet is a symbol of the equality of its members. Everyone who sits there has equal status, unlike conventional rectangular tables where participants order themselves according to rank. 

The Knights, friends of wine

The theme of the knights of the Round Table as a synonym for friends of wine was already present in the 17th century. Therefore, in 1643, a song by André de Rosiers de Beaulieu begins with the lines:

Enfans de l'Amour et du vin, Chevaliers de la Table Ronde...

(Children of Love and wine, Knights of the Round Table...)

Le Roux, in his Dictionnaire comique, pointed out in 1718 that "those who like to be at table for a long time are called Chevaliers de la Table Ronde" (Knight of the Round Table).

The structure of the song

The lyrics, which have many variations, are structured as follows:

  • The first two verses sung as an encore (bis);
  • The first three (or even four) syllables of the second verse, followed by 'yes, yes, yes';
  • The first three (or even four) syllables of the second line, followed by "no, no, no";
  • The second line;
  • Then, move on to the next double line...

Chevaliers de la table ronde

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

Chevaliers de la table ronde

The lyrics in French

The original song of Chevaliers de la table ronde has several verses, here are 7 of the most popular.

Couplet 1

Chevaliers de la table ronde
Goûtons voir si le vin est bon
(bis)
Goûtons voir, oui oui oui
Goûtons voir, non non non
Goûtons voir si le vin est bon
(bis)

Couplet 2

S'il est bon, s'il est agréable
J'en boirai jusqu'à mon plaisir
(bis)
J'en boirai, oui oui oui
J'en boirai, non non non
J'en boirai jusqu'à mon plaisir
(bis)


Couplet 3

J'en boirai cinq ou six bouteilles
Une femme sur les genoux
(bis)
Une femme, oui oui oui
Une femme, non non non
Une femme sur les genoux
(bis)


Couplet 4

Si je meurs, je veux qu'on m'enterre
Dans une cave où il y a du bon vin
(bis)
Dans une cave, oui oui oui
Dans une cave, non non non
Dans une cave où il y a du bon vin
(bis)


Couplet 5

Les deux pieds contre la muraille
Et la tête sous le robinet
(bis)
Et la tête, oui oui oui
Et la tête, non non non
Et la tête sous le robinet
(bis)


Couplet 6

Sur ma tombe je veux qu'on inscrive
Ici gît le roi du bon vin
(bis)
Ici gît, oui oui oui
Ici gît, non non non
Ici gît le roi du bon vin
(bis)


Couplet 7

La morale de cette histoire
C'est de boire avant de mourir
(bis)
C'est de boire, oui oui oui
C'est de boire, non non non
C'est de boire avant de mourir
(bis)

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Knights of the round table
Let's taste if the wine is good
(bis)
Let's taste it, yes yes yes
Let's taste it, no no no
Let's taste if the wine is good
(bis)

Verse 2

If it is good, if it is pleasant
I'll drink it to my heart's content
(bis)
I'll drink it, yes yes yes
I'll drink it, no no no
I'll drink it to my heart's content
(bis)


Verse 3

I'll drink five or six bottles
A woman on my knees
(bis)
A woman, yes yes yes
A woman, no no no
A woman on my knees
(bis)


Verse 4

If I die, I want to be buried
In a cellar where there is good wine
(bis)
In a cellar, yes yes yes
In a cellar, no no no
In a cellar where there is good wine
(bis)


Verse 5

Both feet against the wall
And the head under the tap
(bis)
And the head, yes yes yes
And the head, no no no
And the head under the tap
(bis)


Verse 6

On my grave I want to be inscribed
Here lies the king of good wine
(bis)
Here lies, yes yes yes
Here lies, no no no
Here lies the king of good wine
(bis)


Verse 7

The moral of this story
Is to drink before you die
(bis )
It's to drink, yes yes yes
It's to drink, no no no
It's to drink before you die
(bis)

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Chevaliers de la table ronde © 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