Alouette I’ll Pluck your Head

Alouette I’ll Pluck your Head

I am currently learning to play Primo and Secondo parts to the famous French Folk Song Alouette in my piano class. Upon hearing me practice, my wife informs me that one of the few things she remembers from her high school French class is that the lyrics to Alouette are about ripping off a bird’s head. I of course immediately had to look further into this, and like a majority of the time my wife was right. Some find the lyrics to be cruel (or Metal), but most people don’t have to defeather a chicken before they eat it. Alouette is a traditional work song designed to relieve the boredom and stress of the tedious task of preparing a bird into a delicious meal. The lyrics even walk you though the process from the bill to the tail.

Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai.

Je te plumerai le bec, Je te plumerai le bec, Et le bec, et le bec, Alouette, Alouette ! Ah ! ah ! ah ! ah !

Je te plumerai les yeux, Je te plumerai les yeux, Et les yeux, et les yeux, Et le bec, et le bec, Alouette, Alouette ! Ah ! ah ! ah ! ah !

Je te plumerai la tête, Je te plumerai la tête Et la tête, et la tête Et les yeux, et les yeux, Et le bec, et le bec, Alouette, Alouette ! Ah ! ah ! ah ! ah !

Je te plumerai le cou…

Je te plumerai le dos…

…les ailes… le ventre…

…les pattes… la queue…

Translation

Chorus Lark, nice lark Lark, I’ll pluck you.

I’ll pluck your bill I’ll pluck your bill And your bill, and your bill Lark, lark. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

I’ll pluck your eyes I’ll pluck your eyes And your eyes, and your eyes And your bill, and your bill Lark, lark. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

I’ll pluck your head I’ll pluck your head And your head, and your head, And your eyes, and your eyes And your bill, and your bill Lark, lark. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

I’ll pluck your neck…

I’ll pluck your back…

I’ll pluck your wings… your belly…

… your legs… your tail…

I know what I'm singing this Thanksgiving

References and and more on Alouette

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uWLR-6Zbks

https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/alouette-is-not-a-mean-song-really/

http://www.whereiamnow.net/2012/03/what-do-lyrics-to-alouette-song-mean-in.html