La peche aux moules
Chansons et comptines Lyrics

The song "La pêche aux moules" by Chansons et Comptines tells the story of a child who no longer wants to go fishing for mussels because the city people took their basket. The child then goes on to explain how cunning and manipulative city people can be, with their sweet talk and compliments, but ultimately they are not to be trusted.

The repetition of the phrase "Les gens de la ville" (the people of the city) highlights the divide and distrust between urban and rural communities. The child's reluctance to go back to fishing for mussels shows that they have learned to be cautious around outsiders and not to trust them easily.

The line "Quand une fois ils vous tiennent, tiennent, tiennent / Sont-ils de bons enfants" (When once they hold on, hold on, hold on / Are they good children) suggests that the child has experienced being deceived by city people before. The use of the word "enfants" (children) to describe the adults who took the child's basket implies that they are immature and not to be taken seriously.

Overall, "La pêche aux moules" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting strangers and the importance of community and solidarity.