Un Canadien Errant

(folkloric quebecois)

(English lyrics follow)

1. G (Bm) Em C D7

Un Canadien errant, banni de ses foyers

G (Bm) Em C D7

Un Canadien errant, banni de ses foyers

Parcourait en pleurant, des pays etrangers

Parcourait en pleurant, des pays etrangers

2. Un jour, triste et pensif, assis au bord des flots (2X)

Au courant fugitif, il adressa ces mots: (2X)

3. "Si tu vois mon pays, mon pays malheureux,

Va, dis a mes amis, que je me souviens d'eux.

4. "O jours si pleins d'appas vous etes disparus

Et ma partie, helas! Je ne la verrai plus.

5. "Non, mais en expirant, Oh mon cher Canada

Mon regard languissant vers toi se portera

NOTE: I've seen several attempts to translate this song into English, none of

them capture the literal essence of the original, but here's one version by

renowned Canadian folklorist Edith Fowke. It drops the repetitions of the

French version, thus reducing the song to three verses.

1. Once a Canadian lad, exiled from hearth and home

Wandered, alone and sad, through alien lands unknown

Down by a rushing stream, thoughtful and sad one day

He watched the water pass, and to it he did say:

2. "If you should reach my land, my most unhappy land

Please speak to all my friends, so they will understand

Tell them how much I wish that I could be once more

In that beloved land that I will see no more

3. "My own beloved land I'll not forget 'til death

And I will speak of her with my last dying breath

My own beloved land I'll not forget 'til death

And I will speak of her with my last dying breath."

soumis par/ submitted by : Ted Hermary (czth@musica.mcgill.ca)