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Je suis tant que dure le jour Et grave et badin tour à tour. Quand je vois un flacon sans vin, Je suis grave, je suis grave, Est-il tout plein, je suis badin. Je suis tant que dure le jour Et grave et badin tour à tour. Quand ma femme me tient au lit, Je suis sage, je suis sage, Quand ma femme me tient au lit, Je suis sage toute la nuit. Si catin au lit me tient Alors je suis badin Ah! belle hôtesse, versez-moi du vin Je suis badin, badin, badin.
Note for stanza 3, lines 1 and 3. Some editions have "Quand ma femme dort au lit"
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 18th century )  [author's text not yet checked 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 Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963), "Couplets bachiques", FP 42 no. 5 (1925-1926), published 1926 [ baritone and piano ], from Chansons gaillardes, no. 5, Éd. Heugel [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Bertram Kottmann , "Bacchantische Couplets", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission ; composed by Gary Bachlund.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançons bàquiques", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Simon Chalifoux) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Sonja Lohmiller) , "Bacchantische Strophen", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Matthias Fletzberger
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 94
Throughout the day, I am Serious and playful. When I see an empty bottle I am serious, O I am serious; Is it full, I am playful. Throughout the day, Serious and playful. When my wife takes me to bed, I behave, I behave, When my wife takes me to bed, I behave all night long. If a prostitute comes into my bed, Then I am playful. Ah! Beautiful hostess, pour me some wine, I am playful, playful, playful.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2013 by Simon Chalifoux, (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 Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
This text was added to the website: 2013-09-26
Line count: 15
Word count: 79
