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THE LAMENT OF JEAN LE NORMAND
A lament is a song in a plaintive tone
with harmonics in a minor key.
In «Me, Jean who came from Igé», Jean evaluates his life, in which
happiness and success have mixed with challenges and misfortunes.
He was found dead one night in July
1706 on his lands on the Canardière
[Québec City], his field of honour.
1. Me, Jean, who came from Igé,
I have courage and
ideas.
With my uncle, I arrived
in this country to clear
the land,
my arms itching to feel
the plow,
my heart hoping to start
a family
if the right girl should
come along.
La la
la la la
la la la.
2. From France, they arrived
on a sweetly smelling day
in June,
beautiful, marriagable girls
on ships already anchored
in the river.
They were dowried orphans from the king,
who would become wives,
coming to work.
My eyes quickly settled on Anne.
La la
la la la
la la la.
3. After the briefest of courtships,
we were married in July,
first by a notary, then a
priest,
before friends and
relatives.
Then we took to the main
road.
We first lived with my
father.
One year later, Marie was born.
La la
la la la
la la la.
4. Fertility was our blessing
and our family quickly
took shape.
Twelve children came to
us to love,
sadness, wonder
intermingled.
Our beautiful children,
married by turn,
building their homes
around us.
Though some of them die
almost before they are
truly born.
La la
la la la
la la la.
5. While Jean, the oldest son,
fell in war and was
buried.
Fortunately, there were
children
in this country,
demanding much of it.
Suzanne also founded a
family
with the son of Michel Huppé.
6. Francois married Geneviève
de Trefflé,
assuring continuity.
And their spirit was
rewarded, the fields
pushing up golden spikes
of grain.
Charles and Joseph, each
with
his craft: roofer and
master carpenter,
and their children, from
whom you descend.
La la
la la la
la la la.
7. The day that the bells sounded
over the fields of the Canardière
was an extraordinary day
of celebration
for our family -- the
last.
Jeanne-Francoise was
married to Lemire,
with many friends
gathered together.
It was after that joyous
day that Anne departed.
La la
la la la
la la la.
8. The notarized records
contain some surprises.
But you, my descendants,
please think well of me.
In this country, so huge,
you must be a giant to
stay patient,
and sometimes look for
cheer
in a bottle of brandy.
La la la la la
la la la.
9. I have never been a
saint.
I
will let others claim that.
But before dying, I
prayed to God
to pardon my sins.
I was brave and I loved
my children.
Death has taken me from
the field of honour!
La la
la la la
la la la.
10. Last of my line,
You inherit more
than you think from me,
for if life is
given to you,
then you must
become a carpenter, and build
so that this
country that was first mine,
will also be yours
-- a beautiful monument,
along with the
pride of being a Normand.
La la la la la
la la la.
Words and music by Germaine Normand
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