Anon. - “Quand je bois du vin clairet” (Tourdion)

From La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Hespèrion XXI and Jordi Savall's album “Carlos V - Mille Regretz: La Canción del Emperador”, this French Renaissance song was part of the tryptich “La Magdalena: Basse Danse, Tourdion et Recoupe”, first published in the book of pieces for Lute (1529-1530) by music printer Pierre Attaingnant. “La Magdalena” is modernly ascribed to the composer Pierre Blondeau, while the four voices polyphonic version, being a later arrangement, is perhaps due to the composer Guillaume Le Heurteur on lyrics from an anonymous lyricist.

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Lyrics:

Quand je bois du vin clairet,

Amis, tout tourne,

Aussi désormais

je bois Anjou ou Arbois.

Chantons et buvons,

à ce flacon faisons la guerre,

chantons et buvons,

mes amis, buvons donc.

Le bon vin nous a rendus gais, chantons,

oublions nos peines, chantons.

En mangeant d'un gras jambon,

à ce flacon faisons la guerre.

Buvons bien, là buvons donc

à ce flacon faisons la guerre.

En mangeant d'un gras jambon

à ce flacon faisons la guerre.

Buvons bien, mes amis, trinquons,

buvons, vidons nos verres.

En mangeant d'un gras jambon

à ce flacon faisons la guerre

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Translation:

WHEN I DRINK A CLARET WINE

When I drink a Claret Wine,

friends, my head turns,

but that is true now also

when I drink Anjou or Arbois.

Let's sing and drink,

let's make war on this bottle

let's sing and drink,

my friends, drink up then.

Good wine makes us gay let's sing,

forget our troubles, let's sing.

While eating a fat ham,

let's make war on this bottle.

Let's drink our fill, let's drink

and make war on this bottle.

While eating a fat ham,

let's make war on this bottle.

Drink up, my friends, let's toast

and drink, empty our glasses.

While eating a fat ham,

let's make war on this bottle.