handsome woodcutter
11 June 2020
Once upon a time, there was a popular song featuring a « handsome woodcutter » who became a symbol of freedom for an entire profession.
This story, a variation of The King’s Daughter Who Longs for a Rose, once very popular in the Nièvre region, was collected by Achille Millien from several local inhabitants.
It’s three handsome woodcutters in the lovely forest (ter)
Woodcutters, are you sleeping? Woodcutters, handsome woodcutters, wake up! (Chorus)
The youngest of the three had a blooming rose. (ter)
Along came the king with his daughter.(ter)
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ChatGPT a dit :
ChatGPT
Woodcutter, handsome woodcutter, give me your rose.(ter)
-I will give it to you, if you wish to be my sweetheart.(ter)
-Woodcutter, handsome woodcutter, speak of it to my father. (ter)
-“Well then,” said the king, “give me your daughter.”(ter)
-Woodcutter, handsome woodcutter, you are not rich enough. (ter)
-Oh! Go ahead,” said the king, “I am quite capable of handling your daughter. (ter)
-You are not even worthy of my daughter’s shirt.(ter)
-I am quite capable of handling her dress along with her shirt.(ter)
I have three ships on the water, loaded with goods, (ter)
One is loaded with gold, the other with precious stones (ter)
In the other, there is nothing at all, it’s to bring my sweetheart.(ter)
-Woodcutter, handsome woodcutter, oh! Here, take my daughter(ter)
-Oh! Go ahead,” said the king, “I don’t care about your daughter.(ter)
There are ones in my country who are much more beautiful(ter)
Woodcutters, are you sleeping? Woodcutters, handsome woodcutters, wake up. (Chorus)*
This song was not written to rhythmically accompany labor. It is, in fact, a type of song that reflects the image a group of workers wishes to project of itself; here, it presents the image of a free man who can afford the luxury of rejecting the daughter of a king. In this regard, Georges Delarue (1925-1992), composer and ethnomusicologist, « explains that “the function of these songs is no longer to make the fatigue of work disappear but to valorize a profession.” […]
These songs are not meant to be sung at the workplace, but rather in places where people gather: in taverns, at banquets, or during celebrations—anywhere one wants to take pride in belonging to a particular profession. »
handsome woodcutter It also reflects the importance of the woodcutters’ community in Nivernais society and the positive image they enjoyed. Despite the harshness of their profession, woodcutters, who spent much of the year in the forest, indeed had more freedom than the majority of the population. Finally, this song remained deeply ingrained in the department until the late 1950s, as evidenced by a fresco created at that time by Jean Montchougny in a school building in Fourchambault.
*Chants et Chansons populaires recueillis et classés par Achille Millien, 1908, pp. 14-19.
Visual : Détail de la fresque de Jean Montchougny
