Lyrics and translation Steeleye Span - Hunting the Wren

Hunting the Wren

"We'll hunt the wren," says robin to bobbin,
"We'll hunt the wren," says richard to robin,
"We'll hunt the wren," says jack of the land,
"We'll hunt the wren," says everyone.
"Where oh where?" says robin to bobbin,
"Where oh where?" says richard to robin,
"Where oh where?" says jack of the land,
"Where oh where?" says everyone.
"In yonder green bush," says robin to bobbin,
"In yonder green bush," says richard to robin,
"In yonder green bush," says jack of the land,
"In yonder green bush," says everyone.
"How get him down?" says robin to bobbin,
"How get him down?" says richard to robin,
"How get him down?" says jack of the land,
"How get him down?" says everyone.
"With sticks and stones," says robin to bobbin,
"With sticks and stones," says richard to robin,
"With sticks and stones," says jack of the land,
"With sticks and stones," says everyone.
"How get him home?" says robin to bobbin,
"How get him home?" says richard to robin,
"How get him home?" says jack of the land,
"How get him home?"" says everyone.
"The brewer's big cart," says robin to bobbin,
"The brewer's big cart," says richard to robin,
"The brewer's big cart," says jack of the land,
"The brewer's big cart," says everyone.
"How'll we eat him?" says robin to bobbin,
"How'll we eat him?" says richard to robin,
"How'll we eat him?" says jack of the land,
"How'll we eat him?" says everyone.
"With knifes and forks," says robin to bobbin,
"With knifes and forks," says richard to robin,
"With knifes and forks," says jack of the land,
"With knifes and forks," says everyone.
"Who'll come to the dinner?" says robin to bobbin,
"Who'll come to the dinner?" says richard to robin,
"Who'll come to the dinner?" says jack of the land,
"Who'll come to the dinner?" says everyone.
"The king and the queen," says robin to bobbin,
"The king and the queen," says richard to robin,
"The king and the queen," says jack of the land,
"The king and the queen," says everyone.
"Eyes to the blind," says robin to bobbin,
"Legs to the lame," says richard to robin,
"Luck to the poor," says jack of the land,
"Bones to the dogs," says everyone.
The wren, the wren is king of the birds
St. stephen's day he's caught in the furze
Although he is little his family is great
We pray you, good people to give us a treat.
(Come out with the money, mister, or else bad health we'll we singing.
We pray you, good people, to give us a treat.)

La chasse au roitelet

"Nous allons chasser le roitelet," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Nous allons chasser le roitelet," dit Richard à Robin,
"Nous allons chasser le roitelet," dit Jack du pays,
"Nous allons chasser le roitelet," dit tout le monde.
"Où, oh où ?" dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Où, oh où ?" dit Richard à Robin,
"Où, oh où ?" dit Jack du pays,
"Où, oh où ?" dit tout le monde.
"Dans ce buisson vert," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Dans ce buisson vert," dit Richard à Robin,
"Dans ce buisson vert," dit Jack du pays,
"Dans ce buisson vert," dit tout le monde.
"Comment le faire descendre ?" dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Comment le faire descendre ?" dit Richard à Robin,
"Comment le faire descendre ?" dit Jack du pays,
"Comment le faire descendre ?" dit tout le monde.
"Avec des bâtons et des pierres," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Avec des bâtons et des pierres," dit Richard à Robin,
"Avec des bâtons et des pierres," dit Jack du pays,
"Avec des bâtons et des pierres," dit tout le monde.
"Comment le ramener à la maison ?" dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Comment le ramener à la maison ?" dit Richard à Robin,
"Comment le ramener à la maison ?" dit Jack du pays,
"Comment le ramener à la maison ?" dit tout le monde.
"La grande charrette du brasseur," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"La grande charrette du brasseur," dit Richard à Robin,
"La grande charrette du brasseur," dit Jack du pays,
"La grande charrette du brasseur," dit tout le monde.
"Comment allons-nous le manger ?" dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Comment allons-nous le manger ?" dit Richard à Robin,
"Comment allons-nous le manger ?" dit Jack du pays,
"Comment allons-nous le manger ?" dit tout le monde.
"Avec des couteaux et des fourchettes," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Avec des couteaux et des fourchettes," dit Richard à Robin,
"Avec des couteaux et des fourchettes," dit Jack du pays,
"Avec des couteaux et des fourchettes," dit tout le monde.
"Qui viendra au dîner ?" dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Qui viendra au dîner ?" dit Richard à Robin,
"Qui viendra au dîner ?" dit Jack du pays,
"Qui viendra au dîner ?" dit tout le monde.
"Le roi et la reine," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Le roi et la reine," dit Richard à Robin,
"Le roi et la reine," dit Jack du pays,
"Le roi et la reine," dit tout le monde.
"Des yeux pour les aveugles," dit Robin à Bobbin,
"Des jambes pour les boiteux," dit Richard à Robin,
"De la chance pour les pauvres," dit Jack du pays,
"Des os pour les chiens," dit tout le monde.
Le roitelet, le roitelet est le roi des oiseaux
Le jour de la Saint-Étienne, il est attrapé dans les ajoncs
Bien qu'il soit petit, sa famille est grande
Nous vous prions, bonnes gens, de nous faire un plaisir.
(Sortez l'argent, monsieur, sinon nous chanterons une chanson de malheur.
Nous vous prions, bonnes gens, de nous faire un plaisir.)