L'amandier [English translation]

I had the most beautiful almond tree

Of the neighbourhood

And, for the greedy mouth

Of the whole world's girls,

I used to grow almonds

What a fine, nice job!

A squirrel in a skirt,

With one leap,

Came to tell me: "I'm fond of eating

And my lips smell good

And if you give me an almond

I give you a cheeky kiss!"

"Climb as high as you can,

As you want

And you're crunching and pecking

Then you're nibbling and then you

Come back down even more quickly

To give me the owed kiss!"

When the beauty had all eaten,

All eaten,

"I'll pay you back, she told me

With her mouth full, when the fool

Have got wings

And when you can fly!"

"Climb up here to kiss me, if you want,

If you can,

But be aware that, if you fall,

I won't have a tear in my eye,

Be aware that, if you succumb,

I won't wear mourning!"

She'd - of course -

Chomped at all,

Nibbled on all my almonds,

My crop was lost

But her pretty greedy mouth

Returned me everything in kisses!

And the fun lasted

As long as the fine weather,

But came autumn, and lightning

Rain and gales

Turned my tree into dust

And my love as well!

• Artist:Georges Brassens