Il était une bergère is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 18th century.
About the song
The song is a classic French children's song. However, one wonders about the nature of the lyrics which border on the RSPCA censorship! 😊
Verses 1, 2, 3 and 4 are the best known. Verses 5 to 7, however, are sung less and less, not least because of the animal violence (the shepherdess beats her little kitten).
The original version is even more brutal. In verse 6, the angry shepherdess "tua son p'tit chaton, ron, ron" (killed her little kitten). 😱
Furthermore, the original song is full of double meanings that only adults will understand.
Il était une bergère
Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:
The lyrics in French
The original song of Il était une bergère has 10 verses.
Couplet 1
Il était une bergère,
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Il était une bergère,
Qui gardait ses moutons, ron, ron
Qui gardait ses moutons.
Couplet 2
Elle fit un fromage
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Elle fit un fromage
Du lait de ses moutons, ron ron
Du lait de ses moutons
Couplet 3
Le chat qui la regarde,
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Le chat qui la regarde
D'un petit air fripon, ron ron
D'un petit air fripon
Couplet 4
Si tu y mets la patte
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Si tu y mets la patte
Tu auras du bâton, ron ron
Tu auras du bâton
Couplet 5
Il n'y mit pas la patte
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Il n'y mit pas la patte
Il y mit le menton, ron ron
Il y mit le menton
Couplet 6
La bergère en colère
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
La bergère en colère
Battit son p'tit chaton, ron ron
Battit son p'tit chaton
Couplet 7
Elle fut à confesse
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Elle fut à confesse
Pour demander pardon, ron ron
Pour demander pardon
Couplet 8
Mon père je m'accuse
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Mon père je m'accuse
D'avoir battu mon chaton, ron ron
D'avoir battu mon chaton
Couplet 9
Ma fille pour pénitence
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
Ma fille pour pénitence
Nous nous embrasserons, ron ron
Nous nous embrasserons
Couplet 10
La peine étant si douce
Et ron et ron, petit patapon
La peine étant si douce
Nous recommencerons, ron ron
Nous recommencerons
Translation of the lyrics into English
Here is an approximative translation into English:
Verse 1
There was a shepherdess,
And ron and ron, little patapon
There was a shepherdess,
Who tended her sheep, ron, ron
Who kept her sheep.
Verse 2
She made a cheese
And ron and ron, little patapon
She made a cheese
From the milk of her sheep, ron, ron
From the milk of her sheep
Verse 3
The cat who looks at her,
And ron and ron, little patapon
The cat who looks at her
With a little cheeky look, ron, ron
With a little cheeky look
Verse 4
If you put your paw on it
And ron and ron, little patapon
If you put your paw in it
You'll get some stick, ron, ron
You'll get some stick
Verse 5
He didn't put his paw in
And ron and ron, little patapon
He didn't put his paw in
He put his chin on it, ron ron
He put his chin on it
Verse 6
The angry shepherdess
And ron and ron, little patapon
The angry shepherdess
Beat her little kitten, ron, ron
Beat her little kitten
Verse 7
She went to confession
And ron and ron, little patapon
She went to confession
To ask for forgiveness, ron, ron
To ask for forgiveness
Verse 8
My father I blame myself
And ron and ron, little patapon
My father I blame myself
For beating my kitten, ron, ron
For beating my kitten
Verse 9
My daughter for penance
And ron and ron, little patapon
My daughter for penance
We'll have a kiss, ron, ron
We'll have a kiss
Verse 10
The pain being so sweet
And ron and ron, little patapon
The pain is so sweet
We'll do it again, ron, ron
We'll do it again
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