French song and nursery rhyme

A statue of Cadet Rousselle in Auxere, France.

CADET ROUSSELLE
1.
Cadet Rousselle has three homes
That have neither rafters nor beams.
They are to shelter swallows.
What can you say of Cadet Rousselle?
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.
swallows
2.
Cadet Rousselle has three outfits:
Two yellow; the other grey paper.
He puts it on when it’s freezing,
Or when it’s raining or hailing.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

This is a poster of a famous French Comedian playing the role.








3.
Cadet Rousselle has three hats,
Two round and not very pretty;
And the third two-cornered
That fits the shape of his head.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

A bicorne hat.








4.
Cadet Rousselle has three pretty eyes,
One looks at Caen, the other at Bayeux
Without a very clear view,
So the third is his lorgnette.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

lorgnette







5.
Cadet Rousselle has a rapier,
Very long, but very rusty.
It is said he seeks no quarrel,
But with the sparrows or swallows.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

rapier







6.
Cadet Rousselle has three shoes,
He puts two on his two feet.
The third has no sole,
So is used to hunt his beauty.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

7.
Cadet Rousselle has three sons,
One is a thief; the other, a rogue.
The third is a skinny stick;
He looks like Cadet Rousselle.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

8.
Cadet Rousselle has three fat dogs,
One runs after hares; the other, after rabbits.
The third runs away when called,
Like a dog of cowardly habits.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

9.
Cadet Rousselle has three pretty cats,
That never chase and capture rats.
The third has no eye-balls,
And climbs into the attic without candles.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

10.
Cadet Rousselle married his three girls
In three different neighborhoods.
The first two have no looks.
The third has no gray matter.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

This is a modern postcard from Auxere.
(I have censored it a bit.)












11.
Cadet Rousselle has three coins.
They are for paying his creditors.
When he must show his assets,
He closes them tightly in his purse.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

deniers




12.
Cadet Rousselle becomes an actor,
Just as another makes himself an author.
In the café when he plays his role,
The blind do find him drole.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

A Québécoise poster for a performance.









13.
Cadet Rousselle will not die.
For, before taking that step
He must learn orthography,
To make his epitaph himself.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

14.
Cadet Rousselle was a warrior
In the fashion of a turncoat,
And when he marches to victory,
He turns his back on glory.
Ah! Ah! ‘Tis quite so.
Cadet Rousselle’s a fine fellow.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A movie poster.
 
 
 
 


 

These are my translations of the song (June-July, 2010).  Where the original may have a specific reference to someone in French history, I have substituted a general term to which American readers can relate.
 
Cadet Rousselle is based upon a real person, an eccentric character who became bailiff of Auxere in the 18th century.  According to Wikipedia, In 1792, Gaspard de Chenu wrote the song, which was spread beyond Auxere by revolutionary volunteers who joined the Armée du Nord. 
 
Here is a cartoon version of the song for French children: Cadet Rousselle
 
Here is a Cajun zydeco version from Lousiana: Cadet Rousselle, Cajun
 
You can see how thoroughly Cadet Rousselle has penetrated French consciousness.  It penetrated mine when I was child.  I believe I learned the nursery rhymes either from My Book House or The Children's Big Book of Mother Goose, both of which mother bought for her children and read to us.
The Children's Big Book of Mother Goose;