A Fransaskois from Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan, she was a member of the folk music band Folle Avoine in the 1970s. Her brother Paul Campagne and sisters Suzanne Campagne, Michelle Campagne and Annette Campagne, her bandmates in Folle Avoine, have also continued in music with the folk band Hart-Rouge.
She, along with Connie Kaldor, received a Juno Award at the 1989 Award ceremony in the category Best Children's Album for Lullaby Berceuse.
In 2013, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions as a singer, songwriter and composer enhancing music for young children and using music in French-language education".
She died of cancer at age 58 on July 4, 2018, in Willow Bunch.
Au clair de la lune
Carmen Campagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Prête-moi ta plume, pour écrire un mot.
Ma chandelle est morte, je n'ai plus de feu.
Ouvre-moi ta porte, pour l'amour de Dieu.
Au clair de la lune, Pierrot répondit:
Je n'ai pas de plume, je suis dans mon lit.
Va chez la voisine, je crois qu'elle y est,
Dans son lit de plumes
Pierrot se rendort
Il rêve à la lune
Son coeur bat bien fort
Car toujours si bonne
Pour l'enfant tout blanc
La lune lui donne
Son croissant d'argent
The song "Au Clair De La Lune" by Carmen Campagne is a French folk song that tells the story of a person who is requesting a pen from his friend Pierrot to write a message. However, the singer's candle has died and he has no light to guide his writing hands. He then pleads with Pierrot to open his door and lend him a pen to write his message for the sake of God. Pierrot, who was sleeping at the moment, informs the person that he does not have a pen but suggests that the person try the neighbor's house where they might be lighting a fire.
In the next stanza of the song, Pierrot goes back to his bed and falls asleep again, this time dreaming of the moon. The singer, however, tries to find the neighbor's house to no avail. The song's final lines suggest that the moon has been a good friend to the child, and as he dreams, his heart beats with excitement and anticipation of what the lunar cycle may bring.
Overall, the song appears to be an ode to the power of the imagination and the way that the beauty of the natural world can inspire and uplift us even in the darkest moments. The moon is used as a symbol of hope and guidance, with its silver light providing a beacon of hope to those lost or struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot,
Under the light of the moon, my friend Pierrot,
Prête-moi ta plume, pour écrire un mot.
Lend me your pen, so I can write a note.
Ma chandelle est morte, je n'ai plus de feu.
My candle has died, I have no more light.
Ouvre-moi ta porte, pour l'amour de Dieu.
Open your door for me, for the love of God.
Au clair de la lune, Pierrot répondit:
Under the light of the moon, Pierrot replied:
Je n'ai pas de plume, je suis dans mon lit.
I do not have a pen, I am in my bed.
Va chez la voisine, je crois qu'elle y est,
Go to the neighbor's house, I think she's there,
Car dans sa cuisine, on bat le briquet.
Because in her kitchen, they are striking a light.
Dans son lit de plumes
In his bed of feathers
Pierrot se rendort
Pierrot falls asleep again
Il rêve à la lune
He dreams about the moon
Son coeur bat bien fort
His heart beats strongly
Car toujours si bonne
Because always so good
Pour l'enfant tout blanc
For the little white child
La lune lui donne
The moon gives him
Son croissant d'argent
Its silver crescent
Writer(s): Carmen Campagne, Paul Campagne, Traditionnel
Contributed by Ava L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.