14 February

Pierre

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-coloured lilac © French Moments

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.

Mother's Day in France - Pink Rose © French Moments

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

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Ô gai vive la rose © 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".

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