Où Vas-Tu, Mon P'tit Garçon?- Arsenault (PE) 1924
[From Jongleur Songs of Old Quebec - Page 10, Marius Barbeau- 1962. The English translation follows. The English title was originally translated as "Where Be Going, My Little Boy?" Barbeau mentions a number of other versions. Here's is the original translation:
Where [You] Be Going Little Boy? Recorded c. 1924 from the Reverend. P. Arsenault of Mont Carmel, Prince Edward Island, learned from his mother.
"Where be going, little boy?" (bis)
Here come I, here go you, there us be.
"I be going to the school
For to learn the Golden Rule."
So a small boy of seven said to me.
"What be higher than the trees?" (bis)
Here come I, here go you, there us be.
"Why the sky be higher far,
Sun and moon, and evening star."
So a small boy of seven said to me.
"What be deeper than the sea?" (bis)
"Hell's a hundred times more deep
With the flames that never sleep."
"What be sprouting through the soil?" (bis)
"Why, the hay and golden wheat,
And the pears and apples sweet."
R. Matteson 2018]
OÙ VAS-TU, MON PETIT GARÇON? Recorded c. 1924 from the Reverend. P. Arsenault of Mont Carmel, Prince Edward Island, learned from his mother.
Où vas-tu, mon p'tit garçon?
Où vas-tu, mon p'tit garçon?
Je m'en viens, tu t'en vas, nous passons.
Je m'en vais droit à l'écol'
Apprendr' la parol' de Dieu
Disait ça un enfant de sept ans.
Qu'est-ce qu'est plus haut que les arbr's?
Qu'est-ce qu'est plus haut que les arbr's?
Je m'en viens, tu t'en vas, nous passons.
Le ciel est plus haut que l'arbr',
Le soleil au firmament,
Disait ça un enfant de sept ans.
Qu'est-ce qu'est plus creux que la mer?
Qu'est-ce qu'est plus cruex que la mer?
Je m'en viens, tu t'en vas, nous passons.
L'enfer est cent fois plus creux,
L'enfer aux feux éternels,
Disait ça un enfant de sept ans.
Qu'est-c' qui pousse sur nos terr's?
Qu'est-c' qui pousse sur nos terr's?
Je m'en viens, tu t'en vas, nous passons.
Les avoines et les blés d'or,
Les châtaignes et les poiriers,
Disait ça un enfant de sept ans.
Que f'ras-tu quand tu s'ras grand?
Que f'ras-tu quand tu s'ras grand?
Je m'en viens, tu t'en vas, nous passons.
Je cultiverai les champs
Nourrirai femme et enfant,
Disait ça un enfant de sept ans.
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WHERE ARE YOU GOING MY LITTLE BOY? Recorded c. 1924 from the Reverend. P. Arsenault of Mont Carmel, Prince Edward Island, learned from his mother.
"Where are you going, my little boy?"
"Where are you going, my little boy?"
I'm going, you're going, we're passing.
"I'm going to school
To learn the word of God."
Thus said the child seven years old.
"What is higher than the trees?"
"What is higher than the trees?"
I'm going, you're going, we're passing.
"The sky is higher than the tree,
The sun in the firmament."
Thus said the child seven years old.
"What is deeper than the sea?"
"What is deeper than the sea?"
I'm going, you're going, we're passing.
"Hell is a hundred times deeper,
Hell with its eternal fires,"
Thus said the child seven years old.
"What grows on our lands?
"Oats and golden wheat,
Chestnuts and pears.
"What will you do when you grow up?"
"I will till the fields
To feed my wife and child."