Guest on 2016-07-26
marcos.sullivan
Tue, 26/07/2016 - 09:41
Thanks for explaining this strange song. It is from late 1966 / early 1967, long before May 1968.
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French
Original lyrics
Sans astérisque
{Refrain}
(Hibou, chou, caillou, genou
Au pluriel, ça prend un x
Sans astérisque)
C'est du grec que nous vient le x
Que vient le mot astérisque
Puis les Grecs inventèrent l'y
Mais c'est pas sur le même disque
{au Refrain}
Vous m' direz qu'il y a le z
Mais ze ne suis pas zalouse
J'aime le x
Un peu moins le z
Jouons le dix
Et pas le douze
{au Refrain}
Les gimmicks, il en faut un max
Chichichi, elle a gagné
Avec l'x, on est plus relax
On peut toujours inventer
{au Refrain}
Oui mais nous, pas besoin d' grammaire
On n' se sert pas de tout ça
Mais nous deux, c'est pas nécessaire
On ne fait qu'un, toi et moi
{au Refrain}
Astérisque, vous n'êtes qu'un signe
Vous n'êtes qu'abréviation
C'est pourquoi, virgule, à la ligne
Je termine ma chanson
{au Refrain}
Hibou, chou, caillou, genou
Et pou !
Submitted by marcos.sullivan on 2016-07-25
marcos.sullivan on 2016-07-25Contributors: 
Valeriu Raut
Valeriu RautEnglish
Translation
And no asterisk
'x' came to us through Greek,
as did the word 'asterisk'.
Then the Greeks invented 'y',
now that story is not on the same LP.
(chorus)
You might say there's also 'z',
az for zat i'm not zealous2
I like 'x' a lot,
'z' a bit less so.
Let's rather bet on six
than on a dozen3
(chorus)
These advertising hooks4, you need a lot of them.
Hehehe, that's a win for her
With 'x' we feel more at ease,
you can always make something up.
(chorus)
As for us, we don't need no grammar,
we have no use for all this.
As for us, it's not necessary,
you and me are as one.
(chorus)
Mr. asterisk, you are but a mark,
you're nothing but abbreviation.
That's why, comma5, new line,
I finish my song.
(chorus)
owl, cabbage, pebble, knee
and louse!
- 1. These words end in 'x' in plural form, instead of the usual 's'. Every French kid has to learn these exceptions in elementary school. The complete list goes "bijou, caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou, pou" (jewel, pebble, cabbage, knee, owl, toy, louse)
- 2. the English pun is accidental
- 3. for lack of a better solution to put a 'z' into an English number
- 4. this word is really dated. Back in the 70's it meant some weird word/sound added to a song to try and make it more catchy
- 5. she actually sings "c'est pourquoi, virgule, à la ligne"
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Comments
My oh my, that must have been pre-1968 risqué humor for well-mannered kids...