Paroles et traduction Yves Montand - J'avions recu commandement

J'avions recu commandement

J'avions reçu commandement de partir pour la guerre
Je ne me soucions point pourtant d'abandonner notre mère
Pourtant l'a ben fallu, j'ai pris mon sac et je suis venu
Pourtant l'a ben fallu, j'ai pris mon sac et je suis venu
Y m'ont donné un grand fusil, une sabre, une gibecière
Une grande capote, un grand habit pendant jusqu'au derrière
Et fallait'se tenir drait, aussi drait qu'un pic un piquet
Et fallait'se tenir drait, aussi drait qu'un pic un piquet
Y'en avait'sur leurs chevaux qui faisaient bien deux mètres
Avec deux ou trois plus de zoziaus plantés dessus leur tête
Et des poils d'artillon, tout alentour de leurs talons
Et des poils d'artillon, tout alentour de leurs talons
Y m'ont placé en faction devant une citadelle
Ceux qui ne connaissions point mon nom m'appelions "sentinelle!"
À chaque chat qui passait, fallait crier "quou que chi, quou que chai"
À chaque chat qui passait, fallait crier "quou que chi, quou que chai"
Y m'ont mené dans un grand champ, qu'appelions champ de bataille
On s'étripait, on s'épiaulait, c'était pis que de la volaille
Ma foi, la peur m'a pris, j'ai pris mon sac et je suis parti.
Ma foi, la peur m'a pris, j'ai pris mon sac et me voici!

I Had Received the Order

I had received the order to leave for war
I didn't care about leaving our mother
Yet, I had to, I took my bag and I left
Yet, I had to, I took my bag and I left
They gave me a big gun, a saber, a knapsack
A large coat, a big uniform hanging down to my behind
And I had to stand up straight, as straight as a fence post
And I had to stand up straight, as straight as a fence post
There were some on their horses who were over six feet tall
With two or three more dudes planted on their heads
And gunner's hairs, all around their heels
And gunner's hairs, all around their heels
They placed me on guard in front of a citadel
Those who didn't know my name called me "sentry!"
For every cat that passed by, I had to shout "who goes there, who goes there"
For every cat that passed by, I had to shout "who goes there, who goes there"
They led me to a big field, which they called a battlefield
We gutted each other, we skinned each other, it was worse than poultry
My faith, fear took hold of me, I took my bag and I left.
My faith, fear took hold of me, I took my bag and here I am!