Ô Gai vive la rose (also known as Vive la Rose, Mon amant me délaisse or La Méchante) is a traditional French song from the 18th century about fickle love.
The story of the song
Vive la rose expresses the jealousy of the neglected woman who dreams of revenge.
The heroine, who sings, is the victim of a fickle seducer who abandons her for another.
At first she pretends not to know the cause: "I don't know why".
But then she admits it: "He'll see another much richer than me".
In her jealousy, she dreams to see her rival ill: "They say she's sick".
She even wants to see her dead, and her repentant gallant returning to his first loves.
But in her dreams, she dismiss the traitor with her contempt.
Lilac © French Moments
Ô gué: what does it mean?
"ô gué" or "ô gai" are old French interjections that were used in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries to express joy and cheerfulness (joie et gaieté).
The expression is no more used in France nowadays and can only be found in old songs such as Vive la Rose or La bonne aventure ô gué.
A rose © French Moments
Ô gai vive la rose
Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:
The lyrics in French
The original song of Ô Gai vive la rose has 6 verses.
Couplet 1
Mon amant me délaisse
O gué, vive la rose
Je ne sais pas pourquoi
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Couplet 2
Il va-t-en voir une autre
O gué, vive la rose
Bien plus riche que moi
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Couplet 3
On dit qu'elle est fort belle
O gué, vive la rose
Je n'en disconviens pas
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Couplet 4
On dit qu'elle est malade
O gué, vive la rose
Peut-être qu'elle en mourra
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Couplet 5
Si elle meurt dimanche
O gué, vive la rose
Lundi on l'enterrera
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Couplet 6
Mardi il reviendra me voir
O gué vive la rose
Mais je n'en voudrai pas
Vivent la rose et le lilas
Translation of the lyrics into English
Here is an approximative translation into English:
Verse 1
My lover forsakes me
O gué, long live the rose
I don't know why
Long live the rose and the lilac
Verse 2
He'll see another
O gué, long live the rose
Much richer than me
Long live the rose and the lilac
Verse 3
They say she's very beautiful
O gué, long live the rose
I don't deny it
Long live the rose and the lilac
Verse 4
They say she's sick
O gué, long live the rose
Maybe she'll die
Long live the rose and the lilac
Verse 5
If she dies on Sunday
O gué, long live the rose
Monday we'll bury her
Long live the rose and the lilac
Verse 6
Tuesday he'll come back to see me
O gué long live the rose
But I won't want it
Long live the rose and the lilac
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