Lyrics and translation Natalie Merchant - Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone;
When she came there,
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread;
When she came back
The dog was dead!

She went to the undertaker's
To buy him a coffin;
When she came back
The dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe;
When she came back
He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the alehouse
To get him some beer;
When she came back
The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern
For white wine and red;
When she came back
The dog stood on his head.

She went to the fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit;
When she came back
He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's
To buy him a coat;
When she came back
He was riding a goat.

She went to the hatter's
To buy him a hat;
When she came back
He was feeding her cat.

She went to the barber's
To buy him a wig
When she came back
He was dancing a jig.

She went to the cobbler's
To buy him some shoes;
When she came back
He was reading the news.

She went to the sempstress
To buy him some linen;
When she came back
The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's
To buy him some hose;
When she came back
He was dressed in his clothes.

The Dame made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The Dame said, Your servant;
The dog said, Bow-wow.

This wonderful dog
Was Dame Hubbard's delight,
He could read, he could dance,
He could sing, he could write;
She gave him rich dainties
Whenever he fed,
And erected this monument
When he was dead.

Maman Hubbard

Je suis allée au garde-manger,
Pour donner un os au pauvre chien ;
Quand j’y suis arrivée,
Le garde-manger était vide,
Et donc le pauvre chien n’en a pas eu.

Je suis allée chez le boulanger
Pour lui acheter du pain ;
Quand je suis revenue
Le chien était mort !

Je suis allée chez l’entrepreneur de pompes funèbres
Pour lui acheter un cercueil ;
Quand je suis revenue
Le chien riait.

J’ai pris un plat propre
Pour lui prendre de la tripe ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il fumait sa pipe.

Je suis allée à la taverne
Pour lui prendre de la bière ;
Quand je suis revenue
Le chien était assis sur une chaise.

Je suis allée à l’auberge
Pour du vin blanc et du vin rouge ;
Quand je suis revenue
Le chien était debout sur la tête.

Je suis allée chez le fruitier
Pour lui acheter des fruits ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il jouait de la flûte.

Je suis allée chez le tailleur
Pour lui acheter un manteau ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il montait une chèvre.

Je suis allée chez le chapelier
Pour lui acheter un chapeau ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il nourrissait mon chat.

Je suis allée chez le barbier
Pour lui acheter une perruque
Quand je suis revenue
Il dansait une gigue.

Je suis allée chez le cordonnier
Pour lui acheter des chaussures ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il lisait les nouvelles.

Je suis allée chez la couturière
Pour lui acheter du linge ;
Quand je suis revenue
Le chien filait.

Je suis allée chez le bonnetier
Pour lui acheter des bas ;
Quand je suis revenue
Il était habillé de ses vêtements.

La dame a fait une révérence,
Le chien a fait un salut ;
La dame a dit, Votre servante ;
Le chien a dit, Ouaf-ouaf.

Ce chien merveilleux
Était le délice de dame Hubbard,
Il pouvait lire, il pouvait danser,
Il pouvait chanter, il pouvait écrire ;
Elle lui donnait de riches friandises
Chaque fois qu’il se nourrissait,
Et a érigé ce monument
Quand il est mort.