La bonne aventure ô gué (also known as Je suis un petit poupon) is a traditional French nursery rhyme intended for the very young so that they learn to be good, and to listen to their parents.
The story of the song
The nursery rhyme is a children's song from 1870 recorded by Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin.
Although the lyrics are from the 19th century, the melody goes back much further, to 1550.
Its first version was written in the castle of Bonne-Aventure near Vendôme.
View of Vendôme from the castle © French Moments
Le Gué-du-Loir
Near Vendôme, the hamlet of Le Gué-du-Loir (commune of Mazangé) used to have a ford instead of the present-day bridge. At this point, the river Boulon, fed by the river Mazangé, flows into the Loir (not the Loire!) after having travelled about 30 kilometres.
![Le Gué du Loir in Mazangé © Jovil41 licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons](http://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Le-Gué-du-Loir-in-Mazangé-©-Jovil41-licence-CC-BY-SA-3.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg "Le Gué du Loir in Mazangé © Jovil41 licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons")
Le Gué du Loir in Mazangé © Jovil41 licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The manoir of Bonaventure
Nearby, the manor of Bonaventure (or de la Bonne Aventure) hosted the Duke of Vendôme, Antoine de Bourbon and his wife Jeanne d'Albret.
From 1150 to 1223, the estate was owned by the Templars.
Then, from 1223 to 1440, the Franciscans occupied the manor and are said to have dedicated it to Bonaventure, the great Italian theologian of the 13th century.
According to the legend, the name of Bonaventure was associated the very lively and drunken parties held in the manor, of which French poet Ronsard was perhaps a part. Thus, the song "la bonne aventure ô gué" (good fortune at the ford) immortalised the name (but with different lyrics than those of the nursery rhyme which were added much later, in the 19th century).
![Manor of Bonaventure in Mazangé © Chatmouettes licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons](http://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Manoir-de-la-Bonaventure-Mazangé-©-Chatmouettes-licence-CC-BY-SA-3.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons-scaled.jpg "Manoir de la Bonaventure ‡ MazangÈ")
Manor of Bonaventure in Mazangé © Chatmouettes licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
From 1537 to the 19th century, the family of Alfred de Musset had owned the manor of Bonaventure. The French composer often stayed there as a child and eventually sold the estate in 1833.
La bonne aventure
In the 11th century, the French word "aventure" meant fate, destiny, "what must happen to someone". This meaning is now only found in the expression "dire la bonne aventure", which means to predict someone's future, whether it is good or bad.
Photo: yanadjana via Envato Elements
La bonne aventure ô gué
Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:
The lyrics in French
The original song of La bonne aventure ô gué has 3 verses.
Couplet 1
Je suis un petit poupon
De bonne figure
Qui aime bien les bonbons
Et les confitures.
Si vous voulez m’en donner,
Je saurai bien les manger
La bonne aventure ô gué,
La bonne aventure.
Couplet 2
Lorsque les petits garçons
Sont gentils et sages,
On leur donne des bonbons,
De belles images,
Mais quand il se font gronder
C’est le fouet qu’il faut donner.
La triste aventure ô gué,
La triste aventure
Couplet 3
Je serai sage et bien bon
Pour plaire à ma mère,
Je saurai bien ma leçon
Pour plaire à mon père.
Je veux bien les contenter
Et s’ils veulent m’embrasser,
La bonne aventure ô gué,
La bonne aventure.
Translation of the lyrics into English
Here is an approximative translation into English:
Verse 1
I'm a little baby
With a cute face
Who likes sweets
And jams.
If you want to give me some,
I'll eat them well
Good fortune, oh gué,
Good fortune.
Verse 2
When little boys
Are nice and good,
We give them sweets,
And beautiful pictures,
But when they are scolded
It's the whip that must be given.
Bad fortune oh gué,
Bad fortune
Verse 3
I will be wise and good
To please my mother,
I will know my lesson well
To please my father.
I will please them well
And if they want to kiss me,
Good fortune, oh gué,
Good fortune.
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