Par Derrier' Chez Mon Pere (The Prince's Three Daughters)

DESCRIPTION: French. Behind my father's house is an apple tree, Under it sleep the prince's three daughters. Their lovers are in battle; "If they win, they'll have our love so sweet...if they win or lose, they'll have our love forever"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1946 (Berry-FolkSongsOfOldVincennes) (15th century?)
LONG DESCRIPTION: French. Behind my father's house is an apple tree, "Vole, mon coeur, vole (Fly, my heart, fly)". Under the tree sleep the prince's three daughters; the youngest wakens and tells the others that day is breaking. "Tis but a star in heaven .. a star to light love's way." One says that their lovers are in battle; "If they win, they'll have our love so sweet...if they win or lose, they'll have our love forever"
KEYWORDS: foreignlanguage love army battle war lover soldier
FOUND IN: US(MW) Canada(Que) France
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Berry-FolkSongsOfOldVincennes, p. 38, "Par derrier' chez mon pere (The Prince's Three Daughters)" (1 text + translation, 1 tune)
NOTES [72 words]: Berry-FolkSongsOfOldVincennes dates the song to the 15th century, but without documentation. They note that, in addition to Indiana, the song was popular in French-speaking areas of southern Illinois and Missouri. - PJS
I must say that the context does not sound fifteenth century to me. If it were, the war would probably be the Hundred Years' War, and there should be something about the English enemy. But that's not proof. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.5
File: BerV038

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