| HISTORY |
If
the Joseph and Théogénie Theriault Great-Branch has an anthem,
this must be it. I remember my grandfather Joachim and my father humming
this song as they did their work; for grandfather, that was in his sawmill
in Baker Brook, New Brunswick and for my father, it was as he and I worked
in the woods in Ste-Luce or on the job. Whenever the family gathered, my
paternal aunts would usually find an occasion to sing this song... 'Le
Vieux Sapin', the old fir tree. And, if my piano was close by, my dear
Father would usually ask that I 'do the honors' on the keyboard. |
| INTERPRETATION |
This
song is written in the person of someone who towards the end of a long
and good life, reflects on his years growing up at home (maison paternelle)
which is dear to him. When he thinks of those days past, his 'soul radiates
and sings' on the thoughts of this beloved "cradle" which rocked him during
his years of youth. He sees the garden, the old pines and by the side of
the road, the giant fir tree. In the refrain, he hears the echoes of his
ancestors whenever, at the lightest breeze the old fir tree sings its joyous
hymns with its proud voice. |
| LYRICS |
Quand
des fois au dé-clin de la vi-e
Quand
je songe aux beau jours du pas-sé,
Je
re-viens l'âm-e tout-e ra-vi-s,
Au
nid char-mant qui ma t'ant ber-cé.
Je
re-vois la mai-son pa-ter-nell-e,
Le
jar-din, le vieux pins, la mar-gell-e.
Je
re-vois sur le bord du che-min,
L'arb-re
gé-ant, le cher vieux sa-pin.
Refrain:
Mon
âme al-ors ray-onn-e
Et
tout en moi chant-onn-e.
J'en-tends
le vieux sa-pin
Qui
re-dit son re-frain.
À
la bris-e lé-gèr-e,
Il
mêl-e sa voix fièr-e,
Et
son hymn-e joy-ëux,
C'est
l'éch-o des ai-ëux.
Vieux
sapin à l'allure si fière.
Tu
redit les vertue d'autrefois
Tu
connus le fermier, la fermière.
Tu
fus témoin de bien doux émois.
Quand
jadis sous la fraîche feuille,
Près
de toi la nombreuse nichée.
Grandissant
comme eu un coin des cieux
Vivant
en paix près de l'arbre ombreux.
Refrain
Vieux
sapin dans ma vieille mémoire.
Tu
revis comme un arbre enchanté.
Je
te vois pleins d'orgueil et de gloire,
Près
du vieux gîte encore habité.
Bien
des soirs sous la verte chamille.
Près
de toi réunis en famille,
Nous
allons nous reposer un brin,
Et
folâtrez sous le vieux sapin.
Refrain
Fin. |