Sur le pont du nord (le pont de Nantes)

Sur le pont du nord (also known as Le pont de Nantes) is a traditional French folk song whose lyrics seem to go back as far as the Middle Ages.

The story of the song

The story of the song is about a young girl from Nantes who wants to go dancing but her mother is against it because of the flooding of the Loire. The brother arrives and takes his sister dancing. The waters cover the bridge on which they are dancing and sweep away the brother and sister who drown.

Sur le pont du nord became part of the repertoire of children's songs in the 20th century.

However, in their book Aux sources des chansons populaires, authors Martine David and Anne-Marie Delrieu state that this song is derived from a romance from the 11th century.

The moral of the song

The rhyme teaches children obedience through a tragic story.

The story of Hélène (or Adèle) who went to the ball without her mother's permission and ended up drowned teaches a lesson to obstinate children.

The song talks about dancing as a reason for temptation and the object of the conflict between the daughter and the mother. In the Middle Ages, dancing was severely condemned by the Church as unnatural and somewhat evil. 

The ball offered young people of marriageable age (or close to it) the opportunity to meet lovers.

Despite some nuances that can be found from one version to another, the song story always ends with the death of the two young people.

The moral of the song is that children should always listen to tehir parents.

About Nantes

Sur le pont du nord is not the only song to refer to the city of Nantes. There is also another lament: Dans les prisons de Nantes.

The image of the bridge can also be found in the well-known nursery rhyme "Sur le pont d'Avignon", which is much happier and light-hearted.

Sur le pont du nord

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There are several versions of the song, known as "Sur le pont du nord" or "le pont de Nantes".

The lyrics in French

This version below of Sur le pont du nord has 11 verses. In some versions, the name Hélène is replaced by Adèle and "pont du nord" by "pont de Nantes".

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

On the North Bridge a ball is given (bis)
The beautiful Hélène would like to go there (bis)

Verse 2

My dear mother, will you let me go? (bis)
No, no, my daughter, you will not go to the dance. (bis)

Verse 3

Goes up to her room and starts to cry. (bis)
Her brother arrives in a golden boat. (bis)

Verse 4

What is wrong my sister, what are you crying about? (bis)
Alas, my brother, I will not go dancing! (bis)

Verse 5

Oh yes, sister, I will take you there. (bis)
Take your white dress and your golden belt. (bis)

Verse 6

They left in the golden boat (bis)
The first dance, Hélène danced well (bis)

Verse 7

The second dance, her foot slipped (bis)
The third dance, the bridge collapsed (bis)

Verse 8

The beautiful Hélène fell into the Loire (bis)
Alas, my brother, will you let me drown? (bis)

Verse 9

No, no, my sister, I will take you away. (bis)
In the water he throws himself and they are drowned. (bis)

Verse 10

All the bells began to ring. (bis)
The mother asks: why are they ringing so much? (bis)

Verse 11

It is for Hélène and your eldest son. (bis)
That is the fate of obstinate children. (bis)