Derrière Chez Nous (Back of Our House)

Derrière chez nous, y a z'un p'tit bois,
Ch: Hurra, mes boués, hour-ra!
J'cueillis deux frais'jen mangis trois,
Ch:
Tra la, la la, la la la, la la!

Avec une fillett' de quinze ans,
Sa mère arrive au même instant.

Que faites-vous à mon enfant?
J'suis en train d'lui compter les dents.

Il lui en man-qu’une sur le d'vant.
Il lui en man-qu’une sur le d'vant.

Que je lui pose bellement.
Que je lui pose bellement

Il m'en man-qu’une également!
Il m'en man-qu’une également!

Donnez-moi z'en, marin galant.
Donnez-moi z'en, marin galant.

J'les pose qu'à celle de quinze ans.
J'les pose qu'à celle de quinze ans.

Les vieilles pour le commandant!
Les vieilles pour le commandant!

Original French
From Songs of the Sea by Stan Hugill (1977)

At the back of our house there's a little wood,
Ch: Hurra, me boys, hurra!
I gather two strawberries, and I eat three.
Ch: Tra la, la la, la la la, la la!

Along with a maiden of sweet fifteen,
Just at that moment her Ma arrives.

What are you doing to my little girl?
I'm in the process of counting her teeth.

And she is short one in front.
And she is short one in front.

So I'm fixing her nicely with a new one.
So I'm fixing her nicely with a new one.

I likewise have one missing, too!
I likewise have one missing, too!

Give me one, bold sailor, do.
Give me one, bold sailor, do.

I give them only to young maidens.
I give them only to young maidens.

The old ones are for the captain!
The old ones are for the captain!

English translation
From Songs of the Sea by Stan Hugill (1977)