9 February

Pierre

Les filles de La Rochelle (The girls from La Rochelle) is a sailor's song from the Atlantic coast of France and Canada, characteristic of the earlier sailor's tales and songs that were intended to occupy moments of rest and leisure. The song describes an imaginary and wonderful ship that is operated by children.

Les filles de La Rochelle Female sailor. Photo LightFieldStudios via Envato Elements

Photo LightFieldStudios via Envato Elements

The story of the song

The lyrics date back to the 18th century at the most, although the theme is known from the late 15th century. The melody was published in 1846.

As the song has an oral tradition, there are different versions.

Who are the girls from La Rochelle?

It is not known who the women mentioned in the song actually are. Depending on the source, they may be :

  1. The song may be inspired by the siege of La Rochelle in 1627-1628 during which many men died. The Rochelaises (women living in La Rochelle) decided to take over the defence of the town.
  2. The same Rochelaises are said to have laid a trap for Richelieu's soldiers during this same siege.
  3. For others, the song refers to the period of emigration to New France, when orphans and "women of ill repute" were taken on board to find husbands on the shores of the St. Lawrence.
Richelieu inspecting the siege of La Rochelle. Painting by Henri Motte 1881

Richelieu inspecting the siege of La Rochelle. Painting by Henri Motte 1881

Where is La Rochelle?

La Rochelle is a stunning coastal town located on the west coast of France, in the Charente-Maritime département (Nouvelle-Aquitaine region).

It is renowned for its picturesque harbour and stunning architecture, with its two impressive towers dominating the skyline.

The harbour town is a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer months, with its beautiful beaches and bustling harbour packed with restaurants and cafés.

There are plenty of things to see and do in La Rochelle, including walking the cobbled streets, visiting the impressive aquarium, and exploring the old town. The Cathedral of St. Louis is also worth a visit, along with the many museums, markets, and galleries.

Learn more about La Rochelle on the blog.

La Rochelle 30 © French Moments

The harbour of La Rochelle © French Moments

Les filles de La Rochelle

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

Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre

The lyrics in French

The original song of Les filles de La Rochelle has 8 verses and a chorus.

Couplet 1

(Ce) sont les filles de La Rochelle,

Ont armé un bâtiment,

Pour aller faire la course

Dedans les mers du Levant.


Refrain

Ah ! La feuille s'envole, s'envole,
Ah ! La feuille s'envole au vent.


Couplet 2

La grand-vergue est en ivoire,
Les poulies en diamant ;
La grand-voile est en dentelle,
La misaine en satin blanc.


Couplet 3

Les cordages du navire
Sont de fils d'or et d'argent,
Et la coque est en bois rouge
Travaillé fort proprement.


Couplet 4

L'équipage du navire,
C'est tout filles de quinze ans ;
Le capitaine qui les commande
Est le roi des bons enfants.


Couplet 5

Hier, faisant sa promenade
Dessus le gaillard d'avant,
Aperçut une brunette
Qui pleurait dans les haubans.


Couplet 6

Qu'avez-vous, gentille brunette,
Qu'avez-vous à pleurer tant ?
Av'vous perdu père et mère
Ou quelqu'un de vos parents ?


Couplet 7

Je ne pleure ni père ni mère,

Ni quelqu’un de mes parents

J'ai perdu mon avantage

Qui s'en fut la voile au vent


Couplet 8

Il est parti vent arrière

Il reviendra vent devant

Il reviendra jeter l'ancre

Dans la rade des Bons Enfants

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

(These) are the girls of La Rochelle,
Have armed a ship,
To go racing
In the seas of the Levant.


Chorus

Ah, the leaf flies away, flies away,
Ah! The leaf flies away in the wind.


Verse 2

The grand-yard is made of ivory,
The pulleys are diamond;
The mainsail is of lace,
The foresail is of white satin.


Verse 3

The ropes of the ship
Are of gold and silver thread,
And the hull is of red wood
Cleanly worked.


Verse 4

The ship's crew,
They are all girls of fifteen years old;
The captain who commands them
Is the king of good children.


Verse 5

Yesterday, going for a walk
On the forecastle,
Saw a brunette
Who was crying in the shrouds.


Verse 6

What's the matter, sweet brunette,
What have you got to cry about?
Have you lost father and mother
Or any of your relatives?


Verse 7

I'm not crying for my father or mother,
Nor any of my parents
I lost my advantage
Who went away with his sail to the wind


Verse 8

He went downwind
He'll come back windward
He'll come back to drop anchor
In the harbour of the Good Children

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Les filles de La Rochelle © 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