Sur la route de Dijon

Sur la route de Dijon is a military march originating in Burgundy in the 17th or 18th century that became very popular in France in the 19th century.

The story of the song

Sur la route de Dijon is a song about soldiers in Dijon meeting Marjolaine. Popularised by Aristide Bruant (1851-1925), the story of the pretty Marjolaine who cried beside a fountain has survived the ages.

Which fountain does the song refer to? Tradition has it that it is the Fontaine Sainte-Anne, which was once outside the city of Dijon and formed a charming stream that flowed into the Ouche River.

A good song for phonetics!

Its word games develop the children's phonetics and help them with good articulation. It also familiarises them with the "on" endings.

Sur la route de Dijon

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

The lyrics in French

The original song of Sur la route de Dijon has 8 verses.

(Please note the children's version usually subtracts verse 7 because of the saucy nature of this passage.)

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

On the road to Dijon,
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
On the road to Dijon,
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
There was a fountain
La digue dondaine
There was a fountain
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 2

Near it a pretty young girl
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Near her a pretty young girl
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Weeping like a Madeleine
La digue dondaine
Weeping like a Madeleine
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 3

A battalion came by
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
A battalion came by
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Who sang breathlessly
La digue dondaine
Who sang breathlessly
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 4

Beautiful what do they call you?
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Beautiful what do they call you?
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
They call me Marjolaine
La digue dondaine
They call me Marjolaine
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 5

Marjolaine is a sweet name
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Marjolaine is a sweet name
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Exclaimed the captain
La digue dondaine
Exclaimed the captain
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 6

Marjolaine, what's wrong with you?
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Marjolaine, what's wrong with you?
La belle digue di
La belle digue don

Gentlemen, I'm in great sorrow

La digue dondaine
Gentlemen, I'm in great sorrow

To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 7

It seems that the whole battalion
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
It seems that the whole battalion
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
Comforted Marjolaine
La digue dondaine
Comforted Marjolaine
To the birds, to the birds.

Verse 8

When you pass through Dijon
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
When you pass by Dijon
La belle digue di
La belle digue don
You'll have to go and drink from the fountain
La digue dondaine
Go drink from the fountain
To the birds, to the birds.