A French Navy Traditional Song: And Shit to the King of England ...
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A traditional song of the French Navy tells the story of a small French ship that defeated a bigger English ship.
That did not happen many times!
Capture of the Kent by Surcouf on La Confiance
On October 7th 1800, the French privateer Surcouf aboard his ship La Confiance captured the East Indiaman Kent after a bloody battle.
As they say in movies these days, the song is "based on a true story" or even "inspired by a true story". It indicates that the English ship was a "frigate", which the Kent was not, and that it was going to Bordeaux, while the battle happened near Calcutta (now known as Kolkata) and the Kent had absolutely no reason to go to Bordeaux. And, of course, the capture of the Kent did not happen "au trente et un du mois d'août" (on August 31th).
[I am not very proud of this translation. Although I have been in the navy for 20 years, I am not very familiar with the English terms for sailing ships. If you see mistakes, do not hesitate to tell in the comments]
Song: Au trente et un du mois d'août
Nous vîmes venir sous le vent à nous (bis)
Une frégate d'Angleterre
Qui fendait la mer et les flots
Cétait pour aller à Bordeaux.
Refrain:
Buvons un coup, buvons en deux,
A la santé des amoureux
A la santé du Roi de France
Et merde pour le roi d'Angleterre
Qui nous a déclaré la guerre.
Le capitaine au même instant (bis)
Fit appeler son lieutenant (bis)
Lieutenant te sens-tu capable
Dis-moi, te sens-tu assez fort
Pour l'aller crocher à son bord?
Refrain.
Le lieutenant fier et hardi (bis)
Lui répondit: Capitaine, oui! (bis)
Faites monter tout léquipage
Hardis gabiers, fiers matelots
Faites monter tout le monde en haut.
Refrain.
Vire lof pour lof en arrivant (bis)
Nous l'abordâmes par son avant (bis)
A coup de hache, à coup de sabre
De pique, de couteau, de mousqueton
Nous l'avons mis à la raison.
Refrain.
Que va-t-on dire de lui tantôt (bis)
A Brest, à Londres et à Bordeaux (bis)
De s'être ainsi laissé surprendre
Par un corsaire de quinze canons
Lui qui en avait trente et si bons?
Refrain.
On the thirty-first of August (bis)
We saw coming down wind to us (bis)
A frigate from England
Who split the sea and the waves
It was to go to Bordeaux.
Refrain:
Let's drink once, let's drink twice,
To the health of lovers
To the health of the King of France
And shit for the King of England
Who has declared war on us.
The captain at the same time (bis)
Did call his lieutenant (bis)
Lieutenant do you feel able
Tell me, do you feel strong enough
To go hook her on board?
Refrain.
The lieutenant, proud and bold (bis)
Replied to him: "Captain, yes! (bis)
Raise all the crew
Daring topmen, proud sailors
Bring everyone up.
Refrain.
Jibing when arriving (bis)
We approached her by her front (bis)
With ax blows, with saber blows
Spades, knifes, carabiners
We put it to reason.
Refrain.
What will be said of her now (bis)
In Brest, London and in Bordeaux (bis)
From letting himself be surprised
By a privateer of fifteen guns
She who had thirty and so good?
Refrain.
Whilst I can't comment on the correct names for sailing ships, it's quite the rousing ditty!
;-)
Hahaha..ok now we expect an English counter-attack :D Careful though they have like a zillion navy songs!
:D
good video
Nice one @vcelier
A la santé ....
Bigger is not necessarily better :)
No, it's not.
I think somehow we have such songs too. but I do not know. I will look for something. maybe I find something with yputube to it.
I would be interested in knowing similar songs from other languages.
I am only a couple generations American. My great grandfather and great grandmother came to the US from Belgium. I really need to get there some how to see it with my own eyes.
Yes, you should.
Seeing other countries and being exposed to a different culture is a good thing.
It looks like a beautiful place. Do you speak French?
Well, being born in France and having spent most of my life in France, it would be strange if I was not speaking French.
Oui, je parle français couramment.
I need to learn to speak french. My last name is Michiels. I met a Belgium couple here in San Diego CA. They didn't believe that I was also Belgium until they saw the spelling of my last name. They told me that it is very flemish.
very good post, a great little piece of history from the XVI / XVII century and a great song that gave motivation to the sailors at sea not to fear adversity, thank you very much for sharing
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