Mademoiselle from Armentières

Anonymous, (1100 - 2010)

Original Text

Version 1: Anthony Hopkins, Songs from the Front & Rear: Canadian Servicemen's Songs of the Second World War (Edmonton: Hurtig, 1979): 27. M 1679.18.S6 Robarts Library. Version 2: Carl Sandburg, The American Songbag (New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Co., 1927): 440-42. M 162 A657 1927 Music Library

VERSION ##

1.1Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.2Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.3Mademoiselle from Armentières,

1.4She hasn't been kissed in forty years,

1.5Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.6Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.7Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.8She had the form like the back of a hack,

1.9When she cried the tears ran down her back,

1.10Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.11Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.12Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.13She never could hold the love of man

1.14'Cause she took her baths in a talcum can,

1.15Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.16Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.17Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.18She had four chins, her knees would knock,

1.19And her face would stop a cuckoo clock,

1.20Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.21Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.22Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.23She could beg a franc, a drink, a meal,

1.24But it wasn't because of sex appeal,

1.25Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.26Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.27Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.28She could guzzle a barrel of sour wine,

1.29And eat a hog without peeling the rind,

1.30Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.31The MPS think they won the war, Parley-voo.

1.32The MPS think they won the war, Parley-voo.

1.33The MPS think they won the war,

1.34Standing guard at the café door,

1.35Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.36The officers get the pie and cake, Parley-voo.

1.37The officers get the pie and cake, Parley-voo.

1.38The officers get the pie and cake,

1.39And all we get is the bellyache,

1.40Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.41The sergeant ought to take a bath, Parley-voo.

1.42The sergeant ought to take a bath, Parley-voo.

1.43If he changes his underwear

1.44The frogs will give him the Croix-de-Guerre,

1.45Hinky-dinky, parley-voo.

1.46You might forget the gas and shells, Parley-voo.

1.47You might forget the gas and shells, Parley-voo.

1.48You might forget the groans and yells

1.49But you'll never forget the mademoiselles,

1.50Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

1.51Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.52Mademoiselle from Armentières, Parley-voo?

1.53Just blow your nose, and dry your tears,

1.54We'll all be back in a few short years,

1.55Hinky, dinky, parley-voo.

VERSION ##

2.1Two German officers crossed the Rhine, parlee-voo,

2.2Two German officers crossed the Rhine, parlee-voo,

2.3Two German officers crossed the Rhine

2.4To kiss the women and drink the wine, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.5"Oh farmer, have you a daughter fair, parlee--voo,

2.6Oh farmer, have you a daughter fair, parlee-voo,

2.7Oh farmer, have you a daughter fair

2.8Who can wash a soldier's underwear, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.9Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlee-voo,

2.10Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlee-voo,

2.11Mademoiselle from Armentières

2.12She ain't even heard of underwear, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.13Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlee-voo,

2.14Mademoiselle from Armentières, parlee-voo,

2.15If you never wash your underwear

2.16You'll never get the Croix de Guerre, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.17Many and many a married man, parlee-voo,

2.18Many and many a married man, parlee-voo,

2.19Many and many a married man

2.20Wants to go back to France again, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.21The captain he's carrying the pack, parlee-voo,

2.22The captain he's carrying the pack, parlee-voo,

2.23The captain he's carrying the pack,

2.24Hope to Lord it breaks his back, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.25The officers get all the steak, parlee-voo,

2.26The officers get all the steak, parlee-voo,

2.27The officers get all the steak,

2.28And all we get is the belly-ache, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.29The M. P.s say they won the war, parlee-voo,

2.30The M. P.s say they won the war, parlee-voo,

2.31The M. P.s say they won the war

2.32Standing on guard at a cafe door, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.33The little marine in love with his nurse, parlee-voo.

2.34The little marine in love with his nurse, parlee-voo,

2.35The little marine in love with his nurse,

2.36He's taken her now for better or worse, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.37Mademoiselle all dressed in white, parlee-voo,

2.38Mademoiselle all dressed in blue, parlee-voo,

2.39Mademoiselle all dressed in black,

2.40'Cause her little marine he didn't come back, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

2.41You might forget the gas and shell, parlee-voo,

2.42You might forget the gas and shell, parlee-voo,

2.43You might forget the gas and shell,

2.44You'll never forget the mademoiselle, hinky dinky, parlee-voo.

Notes

1.1] Armentières: a region in northern France west of Lille.
Parley-voo: `do you speak ...' (French), a proposition. Back to Line

1.8] hack: worthless horse. Back to Line

1.31] MPS: military policemen. Back to Line

1.44] frogs: Frenchmen.
Croix-de-Guerre: French military decoration. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1914

Publication Notes

Version 1: ca. 1914-1918, amplified 1939-45. Version 2: ca. 1914-18.

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

RPO 1998-2001.

Rhyme

aabba