C’est l’histoire d’un diable, sortant tout droit des flammes
Promettant au fermier de lui laisser son âme
Our story starts in flame, a devil straight from hell
Who to a farmer swore to spare his mortal soul
If he’d divide and share the harvest he had sown
Half and half for each, that’s how the deal was drawn
À chacun sa moitié c’est une obligation
Le diable choisit pour que l’entente soit bonne
De garder ce qu’il reste sur la terre à l’automne
The devil chose his half, to sweeten up his haul
He’d take the part that lay above the ground in fall
The farmer he agreed, and planted straight away
Potatoes, carrots, beets, which beneath the ground all lay
Des patates des carottes véritables navets
Ho ho ho, Oh who would trade their bounty?
Ho ho ho, Les richesses de sa terre
Ho ho, ho, Who got the better deal?
Ho ho ho, Du diable ou de l’homme
Quand arriva le temps d’échanger le butin
Le diable en maudit ne lui restait plus rien
When it was time in fall, to divvy up the spoils,
The devil’s share was naught, it caused his blood to boil
He to the farmer said, “I’ll not be tricked again,
I’ll take the half below, see how you like it then!”
Prenez donc à vot’ tour, c’qui pousse sur le terrain
Le fermier accepta et planta cette fois
Des tomates des courgettes des melons et des pois
The farmer took the deal, and planted all his seeds
Tomatoes, squash, and peas, melons, and green beans
At harvest time the fiend, with nothing for him then
Returned to deepest hell, the farmer wins again
Retourna vers Satan, le fermier triomphant
Ho ho ho, Who’d gamble without knowing
Ho ho ho, Sans connaitre le marché?
Ho ho ho, Who’d fracture their own land?
Ho ho ho, La terre dessous ses pieds
Le diable revint respectant sa parole
De l’eau du gaz du fer, il viderait le sol
But keeping to his word, the devil turned around
He drained the iron, the gas, and the water from the ground
Now on that barren land, what can spring up today?
Just pois’nous leaks of gas, tainted water, and decay
L’eau souillée et les fuites de gaz empoisonné?
La terre fragilisée comme ce Québécois
Condamné à bouillir l’eau que son enfant boit
The farmer like the land stood shattered and defiled
Henceforth condemned to boil the water for his child
The devil thus enriched, from land all dry and spent
Left to seek new ground, leaving nothing but cement
Ho ho ho, At the ending of our story
Ho ho ho. Qui donc aura perdu?
Ho ho ho, Ses précieuses énergies,
Ho ho ho, Who’s lost and who has won?
Ho ho ho, Will we repeat the bargain?
Ho ho ho, Or is the deal already done?
credits
from Of Hard Times & Harmony,
released December 2, 2022
By Le Vent du Nord, copyright Avenue Editorial
Adapted by Windborne
supported by 6 fans who also own “Le Diable et le Fermier”
Our great musician / singer / performer / arranger. Champion for the unsung through song. Her finest album yet. Wonderful contributions from Francesco Turrisi as well. First couple of folk. Red Balloon Talk
supported by 5 fans who also own “Le Diable et le Fermier”
Okay it is too hard to choose one favorite track but Oak & Ash & Thorn is the first song of TLJ I heard and it's just THE song of the year for me. I am READY for adventures. twofeatheredarrow
Nora Brown continues to bring nuance and resonance to her modern interpretation of Appalachian folk and bluegrass on her latest LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 30, 2022
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 5, 2020
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection. Bandcamp New & Notable May 23, 2018
supported by 5 fans who also own “Le Diable et le Fermier”
Another wonderful collection from Karine. From the hauntingly beautiful to the quitetly barbed politics, Karine delivers a consistently deep and powerful album. scottish_viking