Cadet Rousselle
Chansons et comptines Lyrics
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Cadet Rousselle a trois maisons
Qui n′ont ni poutres, ni chevrons
Qui n'ont ni poutres, ni chevrons
C′est pour loger les hirondelles
Que direz-vous d'Cadet Roussel?
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Roussel est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle a trois habits
Cadet Rousselle a trois habits
Deux jaunes, l'autre en papier gris
Deux jaunes, l′autre en papier gris,
Il met celui-la quand il gèle
Ou quand il pleut, ou quand il grĂŞle
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle a trois cheveux
Cadet Rousselle a trois cheveux
Deux pour la face, un pour la queue
Deux pour la face, un pour la queue
Et quand il sort, avec adresse
Il les met tous les trois en tresse
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle a trois gros chiens
Cadet Rousselle a trois gros chiens
L′un court au lièvre, l'autre au lapin
L′un court au lièvre, l'autre au lapin
Troisième fuit quand on l′appelle
Comme le chien de Jean de Nivelle
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle a trois garçons
Cadet Rousselle a trois garçons
L'un est voleur, l′autre fripon
L'un est voleur, l'autre fripon
Le troisième est un peu ficelle
Il ressemble Ă Cadet Rousselle
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle a marié
Cadet Rousselle a marié
Ses trois filles dans trois quartiers
Ses trois filles dans trois quartiers
Les deux premières ne sont pas belles
La troisième n′a pas de cervelle
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
The song "Cadet Rousselle" tells the story of a man named Cadet Rousselle who has three of everything - three houses, three outfits, three hairs, three dogs, three sons, and three daughters. However, all of these things have some sort of quirk or flaw. For example, his houses have no beams or rafters because they are meant for housing swallows. His clothes are mismatched, with one being made of gray paper, and he only wears the third outfit when it's cold, raining, or hailing. His three hairs are two on his face and one on his head, which he braids when going out. His three dogs have various issues, with one chasing rabbits, another chasing hares, and the third running away when called, much like the dog of Jean de Nivelle. Lastly, his three sons have questionable characters, with one being a thief, another a scoundrel, and the third being just like Cadet Rousselle himself. His three daughters are all married off, but the first two are not pretty, while the third is not very bright. Despite all these idiosyncrasies and imperfections, the song celebrates Cadet Rousselle as a "good-hearted" person.
Line by Line Meaning
Cadet Rousselle a trois maisons
Cadet Rousselle owns three houses
Cadet Rousselle a trois maisons
Cadet Rousselle owns three houses
Qui n′ont ni poutres, ni chevrons
These houses have no beams or rafters
Qui n'ont ni poutres, ni chevrons
These houses have no beams or rafters
C′est pour loger les hirondelles
These houses are for accommodating the swallows
Que direz-vous d'Cadet Roussel?
What do you say about Cadet Roussel?
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Cadet Rousselle a trois habits
Cadet Rousselle has three outfits
Deux jaunes, l'autre en papier gris
Two are yellow, the other is made of gray paper
Il met celui-la quand il gèle
He wears the gray one when it's freezing
Ou quand il pleut, ou quand il grĂŞle
Or when it's raining or hailing
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Cadet Rousselle a trois cheveux
Cadet Rousselle has three hairs
Deux pour la face, un pour la queue
Two on the face, one on the tail
Et quand il sort, avec adresse
And when he goes out, skillfully
Il les met tous les trois en tresse
He braids all three together
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Cadet Rousselle a trois gros chiens
Cadet Rousselle has three big dogs
L'un court au lièvre, l'autre au lapin
One chases hares, the other chases rabbits
Troisième fuit quand on l′appelle
The third one runs away when called
Comme le chien de Jean de Nivelle
Like Jean de Nivelle's dog
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Cadet Rousselle a trois garçons
Cadet Rousselle has three boys
L'un est voleur, l'autre fripon
One is a thief, the other is a rogue
Le troisième est un peu ficelle
The third is a bit crafty
Il ressemble Ă Cadet Rousselle
He looks like Cadet Rousselle
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Cadet Rousselle a marié
Cadet Rousselle got his daughters married
Ses trois filles dans trois quartiers
His three daughters in three districts
Les deux premières ne sont pas belles
The first two are not pretty
La troisième n′a pas de cervelle
The third one is not smart
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Ah! Ah! Ah! Oui, vraiment
Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes, really
Cadet Rousselle est bon enfant!
Cadet Rousselle is a good-natured person!
Writer(s): Serge Mazeres, Traditional (writer Unknown), Jean Marin
Contributed by Lucy B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.