Le pont de Nantes [English translation]

On the bridge of Nantes

a ball is held.

The beautiful Helen

would like to go to it!

My dear mother,

will you let me go to it?

No, no, my daughter,

you will never go dancing.

She goes up to her room

and starts crying.

Her brother arrives

in a golden boat.

What is wrong, my sister,

what do you have to cry about?

Alas, my brother,

I will never go dancing!

Oh, yes, my sister,

I myself will take you there.

Put on your white dress

and your golden belt.

~

She danced three twirls,

the bridge collapsed.

The beautiful Helen

fell into the Loire.

Alas, my brother,

will you leave me to drown?

No, no, my sister,

I will pull you out!

Into the water he throws himself

and they both drowned!

All of the bells

started to ring.

The mother asks:

why do they ring so much?

They ring for Helen

and your eldest son.

Such is the fate

of stubborn children!

• Artist:Nana Mouskouri
• Album:Vieilles chansons de France – 1973