Jean Richepin's Song
The idea of this little song comes through
the French from the Finnish.
I
Apoor lad once and a lad so trim,
(Fol de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
A poor lad once and a lad so trim
Gave his love to her that loved not him.
II
And, says she, “Fetch me to-night, you rogue,”
(For de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
And, says she, “Fetch me to-night, you rogue,
Your mother's heart to feed my dog!”
III
To his mother's house went that young man,
(Fol de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
To his mother's house went that young man,
Killed her, and took the heart, and ran.
IV
And as he was running, look you, he fell,
(Fol de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
And as he was running, look you, he fell,
And the heart rolled on the ground as well.
V
And the lad, as the heart was a-rolling, heard,
(Fol de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
And the lad, as the heart was a-rolling, heard
That the heart was speaking, and this was the word—
VI
The heart was a-weeping and crying so small,
(Fol de rol de raly O!
Fol de rol!)
The heart was a-weeping and crying so small,
“Are you hurt, my child, are you hurt at all?”
