1. Nous irons vir'l'car d'or
A l'procession de Mons Ce s'ra l'poupée St Georges Qui nous suivra de long |
Around ten o'clock in the morning, the people of Mons and their Chambourlettes (guests) start the procession of the Golden Car, carrying around the body of St. Waudru. They are followed by a big parade composed by the various fraternities of the neighbourhood and by the actors who are going to perform the Lumecon fight. |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama
C'est l'poupée, l'poupée, l'poupée C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupée St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot |
The refrain talks of the people of Mons rejoicing, eating, and drinking along the way. The Procession originally ran from Mons to Soignies. Nowadays, it runs from St. Waudru's Collegiate (Mons) to the Grand-Place of Mons (Town Square). When it get there, the Rector of St. Waudru reads some miracles performed by St. Waudru or by St. Waudru's body. |
2. El vieille Marguerite Trousse ses falbalas Et fait bouillir l'marmitte Pour cuir ses biaux p'tits poix |
The origin of this is quite enigmatic. Apparently, it talks about some famous prostitute. Maybe the main purpose of it was to make fun of some very important aristocratic lady, who had many lovers, and made much money from it, perhaps some Canonness... |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama
C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot |
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3. Les dames du chapitre
N'aurons pas de gambon Parce qu'elles n'auront point fait El' tour del' procession |
That's the part which was added later to make fun of the Canonnesses, who wanted the procession to be kept inside the city walls. This part says "The chapter's lady won't get any ham, because they didn't follow the Procession"... Censorship really stimulated European folk-poetry! |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama
C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot |
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4. Voila l'dragon qui vient Ma mere sauvons-nous Il a mordu m'Grand-mere Y vous mordra itou |
"Here comes the Dragon (in Walloon: El'Doudou). Let's run away my dear, he bit my Grandma, and so shall he bite ye". |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot 5. V'là que'l'Lumeçon commence
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12:25: As the priest and the religious procession is heading back to the collegiate, the actors who will celebrate the Lumecon fight are coming. People are forming a circle around them, and in an arena, the fight may start. The Bells are ringing at Mons' Beffroy (the City's clock tower). There are so many bells in it that one can play on it as on an organ. Being a bell ringer in such a tower requires a very difficult and long apprenticeship. |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot
6. Dragon, sauvag' et diab'
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Here we go. On one side. The dragon a very huge puppet carried by men dressed in white (they are supposed to be invisible). The moster is helped by devils and wild-men. St George rides a white horse, he is helped by his knight the "Chinchins" who ride wooden horses. People all around the arena are trying to catch the dragon's tail's hairs. Each hair is supposed to bring one year of good luck. St. Georges, after having broken three picks, three swords, finally decides to shout the dragon. He has to shout three times. |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui l'a Les d'gins du rempart Rirons com' des quiards De vir tant de carottes Les d'gins du culot Rirons com'des sots De vir' tin de carot' a leur pot |
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7. V'là l'dragon qui trépasse En v'là co pou eign an A st'heure faisons ducasse A tab' mes infants |
"Now the Dragon is dead, we'll be safe for one more year, let's celebrate the fact, around a good table." |
C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe, l'poupe, l'poupe C'est l'doudou, c'est l'mama C'est l'poupe St Georges qui va |
Bonjour,