Les sabots d'Helene [English translation]

Helen's sabots

were smeared with mud.

The three captains would have called her ugly.

And the poor Helen

was as mournful as a lost soul.

Don't look any further for the fountain,

ye who seeks water.

Don't look any further, with Helen's tears

your bucket will soon be filled.

Me, I took the pains

to take them off,

Helen's sabots, though I'm no captain.

And I saw my efforts

soon well rewarded.

Inside the sabots of the poor Helen

Inside her dirty sabots

me, I found the feets of a queen

and I kept them.

Her woolen petticoat

was all ragged.

The three captains would have called her ugly.

And the poor Helen

was as mournful as a lost soul.

Don't look any further for the fountain,

ye who seeks water.

Don't look any further, with Helen's tears

your bucket will soon be filled.

Me, I took the pains

to hike it up

Helen's petticoat, though I'm no captain.

And I saw my efforts

soon well rewarded.

Under the petticoat of the poor Helen

under her ragged petticoat

me, I found the legs of a queen

and I kept them.

Now Helen's heart

didn't know how to sing

The three captains would have called her ugly.

And the poor Helen

was as mournful as a lost soul.

Don't look any further for the fountain,

ye who seeks water.

Don't look any further, with Helen's tears

your bucket will soon be filled.

Me, I took the pains

to settle down,

inside Helen's heart, though I'm no captain.

And I saw my efforts

soon well rewarded.

Inside the heart of the poor Helen

that had never sung

me, I found the love of a queen

and I kept it.

• Artist:Georges Brassens