La Madelon
La Madelon or Quand Madelon is a French popular song of World War I. Although it is mostly known as La Madelon the proper title is Quand Madelon which are the beginning words of the refrain. The lyrics are by Louis Bousquet (1914) and the music by Camille Robert.
The song tells a story about soldiers flirting with a lovely young waitress in a country tavern and may partly owe its long term popularity to the fact that the lyrics were clean at a time when soldiers' songs were mostly bawdy and rude.[1] It was one of the most popular songs in France during World War I and became a patriotic song as the war wore on. It remains a patriotic, well-known song in France to this day.
It was translated into other languages as well. In English it was titled Madelon ("I'll Be True to the Whole Regiment").[2] It also became popular among Spanish soldiers.[3]
It was revived in World War II and Marlene Dietrich sang it in Paris in 1939 during the celebration of the national day of 14 July.
The 1955 French film La Madelon, directed by Jean Boyer was a comedy based on Madelon´s legend starring the great Line Renaud who plays the title character and sings the song surrounded by soldiers.
Spanish actress-singer Sara Montiel sang it in the box office hit movie El Último Cuplé (Juan de Orduña, Spain 1957). The soundtrack album was also an international success.
Lyrics
As recorded by Sara Montiel in 1957
Pour le repos le plaisir du militaire
Il est là-bas à deux pas de la forêt
Une maison aux murs tous couverts de lière
Aux Tourlourous c’est le nom du cabaret
La servante est jeune et gentille
Légère comme un papillon
Comme son vin son oeil petille
Nous l’appelons la Madelon
Nous en rêvous la nuit nous y pensons le jour
Ce n’est que Madelon mais pour nous c’est l’amour
Quand Madelon vient nous servir à boire
Sous la tonnelle on frôle son jupon
Et chacun lui raconte une histoire
Une histoire à sa façon
La Madelon pour nous n’est pas sevère
Quand on lui prend la taille ou le menton
Elle rit c’est tout l’mal qu’elle sait faire
Madelon, Madelon, Madelon
External links
- archive.org 1918 recording of La Madelon by Amparito Farrar(Accessed 2011-03-08)
- chansons historiques de France: La Madelon 1914 (Accessed 2011-03-08)
- Original lyrics in French(Accessed 2011-03-08)
- Sara Montiel Songbook