Learning French with a song: ‘À la claire fontaine’

Posted on by


 

The Fountain of Venus, by Francois_Boucher

More than just une comptine (a nursery rhyme) for children, ‘À la claire fontaine’ is deeply embedded in the French culture. Its verses are filled with beauty, romance and a sense of legend. Hundreds of variations of this song exist, emphasizing different possible story meanings.

You can listen to the song in this clip from the end of the 2006 film The Painted Veil.

À la claire fontaine
M’en allant promener
J’ai trouvé l’ eau si belle
Que je m’y suis baigné

Il y a longtemps que je t’aime
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.

Sous les feuilles d’un chêne
Je me suis fait sécher
Sur la plus haute branche
Un rossignol chantait.

Il y a longtemps que je t’aime
Jamais, jamais je ne t’oublierai.

Chante rossignol, chante
Toi qui a le coeur gai
Tu as le coeur à rire
Moi je l’ai à pleurer.

Il y a longtemps que je t’aime
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.

J’ai perdu mon amie
Sans l’avoir mérité
Pour un bouquet de roses
Que je lui refusais.

Il y a longtemps que je t’aime
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.

Je voudrais que la rose
Fût encore au rosier
Et que ma douce amie
Fût encore à m’aimer.

Il y a longtemps que je t’aime
Jamais je ne t’oublierai. (bis)

By the clear fountain,
While on a promenade
I found the water so fair
That I went in to bathe

I have loved you for a long time
Never will I forget you.

Below the leaves of an oak
I dried myself
On the highest branch
A nightingale was singing.

I have loved you for a long time
Never will I forget you.

Sing, nightingale, sing
You with a merry heart
You have a laughing heart
Mine is a weeping one.

I have loved you for a long time
Never will I forget you.

I have lost my (girl) friend
Without deserving it
For a bouquet of roses
That I refused her.

I have loved you for a long time
Never will I forget you.

I would like that the rose
was still on the brier
And that my sweet (girl) friend
Was still in love with me.

I have loved you for a long time
Never will I forget you. (repeat)