Learn to Play The French Song by Lucille Starr
Quand le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes Lyrics and Chords
Jan 12, 2009
Considered by many Canadians to be the true national anthem--if only because a Canadian artist carried it to fame--the song was written by Larry Vincent in 1936 with English lyrics by the prolific Harry Pease. Originally titled "When the Sun Says Goodnight to the Mountains", it was later changed to 'When the Sun says Good Day". A number of forgettable recordings later, the song faded to obscurity.
Roger Charlebois in his excellent article L'Histoire d'une Chanson: Quand le Soleil dit Bonjour aux Montagnes (VibrationCountry.com, 28 Oct. 2007) reports that the French lyric was penned in 1945 by Edmond Moreau and subsequently recorded by sisters Anette and Carmen Richer under the title "Bonjour mon Soleil".
The song finally became a hit in 1964 when a version by Manitoba songstress Lucille Star soared to international fame. Although not particularly popular in America, Starr's version was wildly successful in in Canada and especially in Europe, where her hit was a chart topper for weeks.
It has since been recorded by numerous artists in the US and Canada, including Stompin' Tom Connors in 1988 and The Emeralds in 1989. Much of the baby boomer generation danced to the romantic strains of this famous foxtrot, and it continues to be popular at social dances.
The French Song Lyrics
Foreign language lyrics often suffer when reported on the internet, and the many sites have approximate transliterations for this song (apparently from a common source, since the errors are all the same).
For the record, here is an accurate rendition of the lyric in both French and English, taken from the original Starr recording. Also included are new guitar chords arranged by the author and a literal translation of the French.
Lyric and Guitar Chords
Key of G
4/4
......................||: G................| C.................| G.............|G
Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes,
..............|G...D7....... | D7..........| G......| G
Et quand la nuit rencontre le jour,
.................|G......................... | C........................ | G .......| G
Je suis seule avec mes rêves sur la montagne,
..........|G ...D7 ....| D7 ...........| G......... | G
Une voix me rappelle toujours.
......|C ............| Cm ..............| G............ | G
Écoute à ma porte, la chanson du vent
....|A7.................. | A7 | ............|D-Dmaj7-D7... |
M'rappelle les souvenirs de toi.
no chord........| G ..........| C....................... | G.......G
Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes,
.................D7...............| D7 ....................| G ............| G........... :||
Je suis seule, je ne veux penser qu'à toi.
Now when the sun says good day to the mountains,
And the night says hello to the dawn,
I'm alone with my dreams on the hilltop
I can still hear your voice though you're gone.
I hear from my door the love songs through the wind
It brings back sweet memories of you.
Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes,
Je suis seule, je ne veux penser qu'a toi.
Literal Translation of Quand le Soleil Dit Bonjour
Most of the French and English versions follow closely. The second line is literally "And when the night meets the day", making Pease's rhyming version more poetic. Starr sang "alone on the hill top" (could be Pease's original) but the French repeats "alone on the mountain".
The bridge is literally, "A voice reminds me always, heard from my door, the song of the wind brings back memories of you."
The reprise says "When the sun says hello to the mountains, I am alone, I wish to think of nothing but you." There is no English equivalent of this in Starr's version of the song.
More about Lucille Starr
Lyric (c) Shapiro Bernstein & Co. Permission requested.
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