Another favourite song from childhood. I’m not sure we were really supposed to understand the story – the horse’s hooves & the ‘Hu, dia, hop là!’ were the real attractions.
The memories came back when - very unexpectedly - it was playing on Radio 3 last Sunday just before Private Passions began.
Googling to check my memory that Uncle Mac really did use to play Le Fiacre for us on the Saturday morning BBC Light Programme, Children’s Favourites, I found this gem of a nostalgic website
from Le Fiacre
Un fiacre allait, trottinant,
Cahin, caha,
Hu, dia, hop là !
Un fiacre allait, trottinant,
Jaune, avec un cocher blanc.
Derrièr' les stores baissés,
Cahin, caha,
Hu, dia, hop là !
Derrièr' les stores baissés
On entendait des baisers.
…
Mais i' gliss' su' l' sol mouillé,
Cahin, caha,
Hu, dia, hop là !
Mais i' gliss' su' l' sol mouillé,
Crac ! il est écrabouillé.
Du fiacre un' dam' sort et dit :
Cahin, caha,
Hu, dia, hop là !
Du fiacre un' dam' sort et dit :
"Chouett', Léon ! C'est mon mari !
Y a plus besoin d' nous cacher,
Cahin, caha,
Hu, dia, hop là !
Y a plus besoin d' nous cacher.
Donn' donc cent sous au cocher ! "
