Like most of Hugill's french shanties, this comes from Capt. Hayet's collection Chanson de bord (Paris, 1927). Hugill's translation "has been toned down a little". The translation seems to follow pretty faithfully so maybe it is the transcription itself which is toned down.
Also like most french shanties, the chorus is formed by repeating the first solo and then using the second solo as the first solo of the following verse.
Passant par Paris, vidant ma bouteille,
Ch: Passant par Paris, vidant ma bouteille,
Un de mes amis me dit à l'oreille,
Ch: Bon! Bon! Bon!
Le bon vin m'en dort, l'amour me réveille,
Ch: Le bon vin m'en dort, l'amour me réveille.
Un de mes amis me dit à l'oreille,
Jean, prends garde à toi, l'on courtis' ta belle.
Jean, prends garde à toi, l'on courtis' ta belle,
Courtise qui voudra, je me fous bien d'elle!
Courtise qui voudra, je me fous bien d'elle,
J'ai eu de son cœur, la fleur la plus belle.
J'ai eu de son cœur, la fleur la plus belle,
Dans un grand lit blanc, gréé de dentelles.
Dans un grand lit blanc, gréé de dentelles,
J'ai eu trois garçons, tous trois capitaines.
J'ai eu trois garçons, tous trois capitaines,
L'un est à Bordeaux, l'autre à La Rochelle.
L'un est à Bordeaux, l'autre à La Rochelle,
Le plus jeune à Paris, courtisant les belles.
Le plus jeune à Paris, courtisant les belles,
Et le père est ici, qui hal' sur la ficelle.
Passing through Paris, knocking back the bottle,
Ch: Passing through Paris, knocking back the bottle,
One of my friends whispered in my ear,
Ch: Good! Good! Good!
The good wine makes me sleep, but love wakes me up,
Ch: The good wine makes me sleep, but love wakes me up.
One of my friends whispered in my ear,
John, take care, somebody's courting your girl.
John, take care, somebody's courting your girl,
Anyone can court her, I don't give a damn for her
Anyone can court her, I don't give a damn for her.
I have had the finest flower of her heart.
I have had the finest flower of her heart,
In a big white bed trimmed with lace
In a big white bed trimmed with lace,
I have had three boys, all captains.
I have had three boys, all captains,
One is in Bordeaux, the other at La Rochelle.
One is in Bordeaux, the other at La Rochelle,
The youngest is in Paris, courting the girls.
The youngest is in Paris, courting the girls,
And the father is here, hauling on the string.