Last Updated: 26 February 2023

Compagnon de la Marjolaine (also known as Le chevalier du guet) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 16th century.

The story of the song

The song was composed around 1650 and was most probably inspired by a dispute that the the knight of the watch (chevalier du guet), a very powerful person in Paris at the time, had with the Marjoram companions (Compagnons de la Marjolaine), who also formed a very powerful brotherhood.

What is 'marjolaine'?

Marjoram is a flower known for its flavour and once picked is not subject to withering or rotting. It is used as a flavouring or as an infusion. Thus, the "Compagnons de la Marjolaine" referred to the brotherhood of perfumers...

Marjolaine © Alastair Rae - licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Marjolaine © Alastair Rae - licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons

Who was the 'chevalier du guet'?

The watchmen of the night who patrolled the streets of Paris were a bourgeois militia who were supposed to keep watch over the safety of the squares, streets, alleys and lanes at night, which were not very safe in the Middle Ages.

The knight of the watch was the supreme chief of the Paris police, who had a lot to do with the exploits of big and small crooks, fights and murders.

Paris by night © French Moments

Paris by night © French Moments

Compagnon de la Marjolaine

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

Compagnons de la Marjolaine

The lyrics in French

The original song of Compagnon de la Marjolaine has 19 verses.

Couplet 1

Qu'est-ce qui passe ici si tard ?
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Qu'est-ce qui passe ici si tard ?
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 2

C'est le chevalier du guet,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
C'est le chevalier du guet,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 3

Que demande le chevalier ?
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Que demande le chevalier ?
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 4

Une fille à marier,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Une fille à marier,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 5

N'y a pas d' fille à marier,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
N'y a pas d' fille à marier,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 6

On m'a dit qu' vous en aviez,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
On m'a dit qu' vous en aviez,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 7

Ceux qui l'ont dit s' sont trompés,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Ceux qui l'ont dit s' sont trompés,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 8

Je veux que vous m'en donniez,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Je veux que vous m'en donniez,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 9

Sur les onze heur's repassez
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Sur les onze heur's repassez
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 10

Les onze heur's sont bien passées,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Les onze heur's sont bien passées,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 11

Sur les minuit revenez,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Sur les minuit revenez,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 12

Les minuit sont bien sonnés,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Les minuit sont bien sonnés,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 13

Mais nos filles sont couchées,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Mais nos filles sont couchées,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 14

En est-il un' d'éveillée ?
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
En est-il un' d'éveillée ?
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 15

Qu'est-ce que vous lui donnerez ?
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Qu'est-ce que vous lui donnerez ?
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 16

De l'or, des bijoux assez,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
De l'or, des bijoux assez,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 17

Ell' n'est pas intéressée,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Ell' n'est pas intéressée,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 18

Mon cœur je lui donnerai,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Mon cœur je lui donnerai,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.


Couplet 19

Dans ce cas-là choisissez,
Compagnons de la Marjolaine,
Dans ce cas-là choisissez,
Gai, gai, dessus le quai.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

What's going on here so late?
Companions of the Marjoram,
What's going on here so late?
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 2

It is the knight of the watch,
Companions of the Marjoram,
It's the knight of the watch,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 3

What does the knight ask?
Companions of the Marjoram,
What does the knight ask?
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 4

A girl to marry,
Companions of the Marjoram,
A girl to marry,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 5

There is no girl to marry,
Companions of the Marjoram,
There's no girl to marry,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 6

I was told that you had some,
Companions of the Marjoram,
I was told that you had some,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 7

Those who said it were mistaken,
Companions of the Marjoram,
Those who said it were wrong,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 8

I want you to give me some,
Companions of the Marjoram,
I want you to give me some,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 9

At eleven o'clock, pass again
companions of the Marjoram,
At eleven o’clock, pass again
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 10

The eleven hours are well spent,
Companions of the Marjoram,
The eleven hours are well spent,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 11

At midnight, return,
Companions of the Marjoram,
At midnight, return,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 12

The Midnight is well sounded,
Companions of the Marjoram,
The midnight is well sounded,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 13

But our girls are in bed,
Companions of the Marjoram,
But our girls are in bed,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 14

Is one of them awake?
Companions of the Marjoram,
Is one of them awake?
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 15

What will you give her?
Companions of the Marjoram,
What will you give her?
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 16

Gold, jewels enough,
Companions of the Marjoram,
Gold, jewels enough,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 17

She's not interested,
Companions of the Marjoram,
She's not interested,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 18

My heart I'll give her,
Companions of the Marjoram,
My heart I'll give her,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


Verse 19

In this case choose,
Companions of the Marjoram,
In this case choose,
Gay, gay, over the quay.


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Compagnons de la Marjolaine © 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:

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 Discovery Courses and books about France.

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