Chevaliers de la table ronde

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.

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:

The lyrics in French

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

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)