Quand j'ÃÆ'©tais chez mon pÃÆ'¨re,

apprenti pastoureau,

il m'a mis dans la lande,

pour garder les troupiaux.

Troupiaux, troupiaux,

je n'en avais guÃÆ'¨re.

Troupiaux, troupiaux,

je n'en avais biaux.



Mais je n'en avais guÃÆ'¨re,

je n'avais qu'trois agneaux;

et le loup de la plaine

m'a mangÃÆ'© la plus biau.

Troupiaux, troupiaux, ...





Il ÃÆ'©tait si vorace

n'a laissÃÆ'© que la piau,

n'a laissÃÆ'© que la queue,

pour mettre ÃÆ'  mon chapiau.

Troupiaux, troupiaux, ...





Mais des os de la bÃÆ'ªte

me fis un chalumiau

pour jouer ÃÆ'  la fÃÆ'ªte,

ÃÆ'  la fÃÆ'ªt' du hamiau.

Troupiaux, troupiaux, ...





Pour fair' danser l'village,

dessous le grandormiau,

et les jeun's et les vieilles,

les pieds dan les sabiots.

Troupiaux, troupiaux, ...





 





When I lived with my father



When I lived with my father

as an apprentice shepherd,

he sent me to the moor

to look after the sheep.

Sheep, sheep,

I had but a few.

Sheep, sheep,

I had none that were bonny.





No, I had but a few,

I had but three lambs;

and the wolf from the plain

ate the finest of those.

Sheep, sheep, ...





He was so ravenous

he left only the pelt,

he left only the tail

to put on my hat.

Sheep, sheep, ...





But the bones of the animal

made me pipe

to play at the fair,

at the village fair.

Sheep, sheep, ...





So the village could dance

beneath the great elm,

young women and old

with clogs on their feet.

Sheep, sheep, ...