V’LA L’BON VENT

Home 9 Composers 9 Allison Girvan 9 V’LA L’BON VENT

This classic French Canadian Folksong, is over 300 years old, and was sung by the Voyageurs and Coureur du Bois (pioneers) as they worked. Snappy rhythms and an unforgettable melody makes this piece stand apart.

Derrier chez nous y’a t’un étang (2x)
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant
V’la l’bon vent, v’la l’joli vent
V’la l’bon vent m’amie m’appelle
V’la l’bon vent, v’la l’joli vent
V’la l’bon vent m’amie m’attend
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant
Le fils du roi s’en va chassant
Le fils du roi s’en va chassant
Avec son grand fusil d’argent
Avec son grand fusil d’argent
Visa le noir, tua le blanc
Visa le noir, tua le blanc
Oh fils du roi, tu est méchant
Oh fils du roi, tu est méchant
D’avoir tuer mon canard blanc

a rough translation:

Behind our house there is a pond
Three handsome ducks went for a swim
Go good wind, go pretty wind
Go good wind, my friend is calling
Go good wind, go pretty wind
Go good wind, she waits for me
Three handsome ducks went for a swim
The king’s son went hunting
The king’s son went hunting
With his great silver gun
With his great silver gun
Wounded the black, killed the white
Wounded the black, killed the white
O, son of the king, you are cruel
O, son of the king, you are cruel
You have killed my white duck