Malbrough s'en va-t-en Guerre |
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre Mironton, ton ton mirontaine Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre |: Ne sait quand reviendra. :|
2. Il reviendra z'à Paques
3. La Trinité se passe,
4. Madame à sa tour monte
5. Elle aperçoit son page
6. Beau page, ô mon beau page
7. Aux nouvell's que j'apporte | 8. Quittez vos habits roses Mironton, ton ton mirontaine Quittez vos habits roses |: Et vos satins brochés. :|
9. Monsieur Malbrough est mort
10. L'ai vu porter en terre
11. L'un portait sa cuirasse
12. Le troisièm' son grand sabre
13. Tout autour de sa tombe
14. Sur la plus haute branche |
John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough, was severely wounded - not killed as the song says - in 1709 at Malplaquet. The song that was made to mock him became a success from 1781 : Geneviève Poitrine, nurse of Louis XVI's first son, sang it to the royal child. Marie Antoinette played it on the clavicord, the court made it fashionable and the tune was soon famous worldwide. English-speaking people know it as "For he's a jolly good fellow". - Wit h thanks to Philippe Pierson for the French and English commentary.