Track 2: La Guillannée
French with English translation
Artist: The Prairie du Rocher Singers
Traditional; passed down through Southern Illinois oral history
Translated by Stefan Santiago
Performed by:
Lead Vocals by Gerry Franklin
Fiddle and Vocals by Stefan Santiago
Guitar and Vocals by Gabe Doiron
Banjourine and Vocals by Camille Moreddu
Vocals by Yves Dorémieux and Linda Franklin
Audio Link= https://rivertorivercommunityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/la-guillann-e
The French were the first Europeans to explore and settle in Southern Illinois, starting in the mid-17th century. Caroling on New Year’s Eve is an old French medieval custom. For the last 300 years in Prairie du Rocher, carolers have been upholding this tradition. “La Guillannée” is a begging song: singers and musicians knock on the door of a wealthy person’s home, sing, and ask to be let inside. Click here to listen to a recording of “La Guillannée” from 1962. In the audio file, you can hear Bill Wilson of the SIU Broadcasting Service interviewing historian John W. Allen’s about this centuries’ old tradition and those who perform it. -SD
I’ve known for some years now that my friend, Stefan Santiago, would go out to Prairie du Rocher to play the fiddle for the New Year's Eve celebrations there. I didn’t realize how deep and storied the tradition was and how Stefan is a part of a new generation upholding this long standing ritual. Gerry Franklin leads the vocal call and response in a group that really didn’t have a name but for the purposes of this album we’re dubbing, The Prairie du Rocher Singers. -JP
Lyrics
Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tout le monde du logis,
pour le dernier jour de l’année ô la Guillannée vous nous devez
Good evening to the master and mistress, and to everybody in the house
for the last day of the year, you owe us the New Year’s mistletoe
La Guillannée vous nous devez dites-nous-le
si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le
You owe us the New Year’s mistletoe, tell it to us
if you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us
Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tous le monde du logis,
pour le dernier jour de l’année ô la Guillannée vous nous devez
Good evening to the master and mistress, and to everybody in the house
for the last day of the year, you owe us the New Year’s mistletoe
La Guillannée vous nous devez dites-nous-le
Si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le
You owe us the New Year’s mistletoe, tell it to us
if you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us
On vous demande seulement une échinée
We’ll only ask you for a pork backbone
Une échinée n’est pas grande chose ça n’a que de dix pieds de long
Nous en ferons une fricassée de quatre-vingt dix pieds de long
A pork backbone is not a lot, it's only about 10 feet long
and we'll make ourselves a stew that is 90 feet long
Si vous voulez nous rien donner dites-nous-le
On vous demande seulement la fille aînée
If you don’t want to give us anything, tell it to us
We’ll only ask you for the oldest daughter
Nous lui ferons faire bonne chère, nous lui ferons chauffer les pieds
Quand nous fûmes au milieu du bois nous fûmes à l’ombre
We’ll make her make a feast and we’ll make her warm her feet
When we were lost in the woods, we were in the shadows
J’entendais la coucou chantez et la colombe
Rossignol du vert bocage ambassadeur des amoureux
I heard the cuckoo sing and the dove,
Nightingale of the green wooded countryside, ambassador to those in love
Mais va te dire à ma maîtresse qu’elle a toujours le cœur joyeux
qu’elle a toujours le cœur joyeux point de tristesse
Go tell my mistress to always have a joyous heart
Always a joyous heart, no sorrow at all
Tous les fillettes qui n’ont pas d’amant comment vivent-elles
Ce sont les amours qui les réveillent et qui les empêchent de dormir
How do all these girls live without a lover
It’s their longing that keeps them wakeful and disturbs their sleep
Supplions à la compagnie de vouloir bien nous excuser
si nous avons fait quelque folie c’était pour nous désennuyer
une autre fois nous prenons garde quand sera temps de revenir
We supplicate for the forgiveness of the company
If we have pulled any shenanigans, it was just to have some fun
Next time we will be more careful, when it’s time to return
La chandelle de ma cousine elle a fait de grand coton
il y’a toujours moyen de rire pour les filles et les garçons
The candle of my cousin, she made of large cotton
There's always a way to make the girls and boys laugh
Bonsoir le maître et la maîtresse, et tout le monde du logis,
Good evening to the master and mistress, and everybody in the house
Bonne Année
Happy New Year!