LA LAINE DES MOUTONS

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la tondaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la tondons.
Tondons, tondaine, la laine des moutaines,
tondons, tondons, la laine des moutons.

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la lavaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la lavons.
Lavons, lavaine, la laine des moutaines,
lavons, lavons, la laine des moutons.

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la cardaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la cardons.
(…)

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la filaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la filons.
(…)

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la tissaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la tissons.
(…)

La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la chantaine
La laine des moutons, c’est nous qui la chantons.
(…)

*”Tondaine” in French is made up from the root of the verb (tond-) and the ending of “laine” (wool) but is not an actual word. The verbs near the end of the 2nd line of each verse are made up using the same pattern. In this English translation, “ool” is used at the end of the verbs to get the same idea across. This also applies to the noun “moutaine” (hence, “sheepool”).

TRANSLATION

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who shearool* it,
The wool of the sheep, it’s we who shear it.
Let’s shear, let’s shear, the wool of the sheepool*,
Let’s shear, let’s shear, the wool of the sheep.

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who washool it,
the wool of the sheep, it’s we who wash it.
Let’s wash, let’s wash, the wool of the sheepool,
Let’s wash, let’s wash, the wool of the sheep.

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who cardool it,
the wool of the sheep, it’s we who card it.
(…)

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who spinool it,
The wool of the sheep, It’s we who spin it.
(…)

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who wearool it,
The wool of the sheep, it’s we who wear it.
(…)

The wool of the sheep, it’s we who singool of it,
The wool of the sheep, It’s we who sing of it.
(…)