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.
Un petit navire
Carmen Campagne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il était un petit navire
Qui n′avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
Qui n'avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
Il entreprit un long voyage
Il entreprit un long voyage
Sur la mer Mé-Mé-Méditerranée
Au bout de cinq ou six semaines
Au bout de cinq ou six semaines
Les vivres vin-vin-vinrent à manquer
Les vivres vin-vin-vinrent à manquer
On tira z′à la courte paille
On tira z'à la courte paille
Pour savoir qui, qui, qui serait manger
Pour savoir qui, qui, qui serait manger
Le sort tomba sur le plus jeune
Le sort tomba sur le plus jeune
C'est donc lui qui, qui fut désigné
C′est donc lui qui, qui fut désigné
Au même instant, un grand miracle
Au même instant, un grand miracle
Pour l′enfant fut, fut, fut réalisé
Pour l'enfant fut, fut, fut réalisé
Des p′tits poissons dans le navire
Des p'tits poissons dans le navire
Sautèrent par, par, par plusieurs milliers
Sautèrent par, par, par plusieurs milliers
On les prit, on les mit à frire
On les prit, on les mit à frire
Le jeune mous-mous-mousse fut sauvé
Le jeune mous-mous-mousse fut sauvé
Il était un petit navire
Il était un petit navire
Qui n′avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
Qui n'avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
"Un petit navire" is a playful children's song in French, performed by Carmen Campagne, the popular Canadian singer-songwriter known for her music for kids. The song tells the story of a small sailing vessel that had never sailed before and sets off on a long voyage across the Mediterranean Sea. However, after five or six weeks at sea, the food supplies run out and the crew draw the short straw to decide who will be eaten. The youngest member of the crew is selected, but just as they are about to feast on him, a miracle occurs, and thousands of small fish suddenly jump into the ship, saving the boy's life.
The song's lyrics convey a story of youthful innocence, adventure, and humor while also promoting problem-solving, thinking outside the box and the concept of a miracle. The song's upbeat melody and repetition of the chorus make it catchy and easy to sing along with, especially for children.
Line by Line Meaning
Il était un petit navire
Once upon a time there was a small ship
Qui n′avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
That had never sailed before
Il entreprit un long voyage
It embarked on a long journey
Sur la mer Mé-Mé-Méditerranée
Across the Mediterranean Sea
Au bout de cinq ou six semaines
After five or six weeks
Les vivres vin-vin-vinrent à manquer
Food and drinks became scarce
On tira z′à la courte paille
A straw was drawn to determine
Pour savoir qui, qui, qui serait manger
Who would be the one to go hungry
Le sort tomba sur le plus jeune
The youngest one was chosen by fate
C′est donc lui qui, qui fut désigné
And he was the one who was selected
Au même instant, un grand miracle
Suddenly, a great miracle occurred
Pour l′enfant fut, fut, fut réalisé
And it saved the child's life
Des p′tits poissons dans le navire
There were small fish in the ship
Sautèrent par, par, par plusieurs milliers
They jumped out by the thousands
On les prit, on les mit à frire
The fish were caught and fried
Le jeune mous-mous-mousse fut sauvé
And the young cabin boy was saved
Il était un petit navire
Once upon a time there was a small ship
Qui n′avait ja-ja-jamais navigué
That had never sailed before
Writer(s): Denis Larochelle, Carmen Nicole Campagne
Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.