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Dors, mon fieux, dors, Bercé, berçant. Fait froid dehors, Ça glace l'sang. Mais gna d'chez soi Qu'pour ceux qu'a d'quoi. Le vent pince et la neige mouille, Berçant, bercé. Dans un chez-soi on a d'la houille Ou du bois d'automn' ramassé, Berçant, bercé, Bercé grenouille. Dors, mon fieux, dors, Bercé, berçant. Fait froid dehors, Ça glace l'sang. Mais gna d'chez soi Qu'pour ceux qu'a d'quoi. Not' maison à nous, c'est ma hotte, Berçant, bercé. Et l' vieux jupon qui t'emmaillotte Jusqu'à ta chair est traversé, Berçant, bercé, Bercé marmotte. Dors, mon fieux, dors, Bercé, berçant. Fait froid dehors, Ça glace l'sang. Mais gna d'chez soi Qu'pour ceux qu'a d'quoi. Ton bedon est vide et gargouille, Berçant, bercé. C'est pas pour nous qu'est la pot-bouille, Ni le bon pichet renversé, Berçant, bercé, Bercé grenouille. Dors, mon fieux, dors, Bercé, berçant. Fait froid dehors, Ça glace l'sang. Mais gna d'chez soi Qu'pour ceux qu'a d'quoi. J’aurions seul’ment un p’tit feu d’ motte, Berçant, bercé, T’y chauff’rais peton et menotte Et ton derrièr’ d’ang’ tout gercé, Berçant, bercé, Bercé marmotte. Dors, mon fieux, dors, Bercé, berçant. Fait froid dehors, Ça glace l’ sang. Mais gna d’ chez soi Qu’ pour ceux qu’a d’ quoi.
C. Cui sets stanzas 1-7
Confirmed with Jean Richepin, La Chanson des gueux, Maurice Dreyfous, 1881, pages 5-7.
Note provided by Laura Prichard: "gna" is a colloquial spelling of "y'a"
Text Authorship:
- by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926), "Berceuse", appears in La chanson des gueux, in 1. Gueux des champs, in 1. Chansons de mendiants, no. 1, Paris, Éd. Maurice Dreyfous, first published 1881 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Paul Amiet (1883 - 1942), "Berceuse", published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Quatre mélodies, no. 4, Paris, Éd. Maurice Senart (E.M.S. 6915) [sung text not yet checked]
- by César Antonovich Cui (1835 - 1918), "Berceuse", op. 44 no. 1, stanzas 1-7 [ voice and piano ], from Vingt Poèmes de Jean Richepin, no. 1, Éd. "Au Menestrel" Henri Heugel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Désiré Hippolyte Dihau (1833 - 1909), "Berceuse" [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Lullaby", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 202
Sleep, my son, sleep, Rocked in your cradle. It’s cold outside, It freezes the blood. But there’s something outside For those who have that special something. The wind bites and the snow is wet, Rocked in your cradle. At home we have coal And a pile of chopped wood, Rocked in your cradle, Cradled like a little frog. Sleep, my son, sleep, Rocked in your cradle. It’s cold outside, It freezes the blood. But there’s something outside For those who have that special something. We’re home together, with my little bucket of coal, Rocked in your cradle. And the old petticoat that swaddles you Around your whole body, Rocked in your cradle, Cradled like a little marmot. Sleep, my son, sleep, Rocked in your cradle. It’s cold outside, It freezes the blood. But there’s something outside For those who have that special something. Your tummy is empty and gurgling, Rocked in your cradle. We can’t fix it with a stewpot, Nor the overturned pitcher, Rocked in your cradle, Cradled like a little frog. Sleep, my son, sleep, Rocked in your cradle. It’s cold outside, It freezes the blood. But there’s something outside For those who have that special something. I’d only start a little fire, Rocked in your cradle, Your little feet and hands will keep warm And your backside is all chapped, Rocked in your cradle, Cradled like a little marmot. Sleep, my son, sleep, Rocked in your cradle. It’s cold outside, It freezes the blood. But there’s something outside For those who have that special something.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926), "Berceuse", appears in La chanson des gueux, in 1. Gueux des champs, in 1. Chansons de mendiants, no. 1, Paris, Éd. Maurice Dreyfous, first published 1881
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-17
Line count: 54
Word count: 258