Author: Corinne P.
Le p’tit quinquin
Dors min p’tit quinquin, (sleep my little child)
min p’tit pouchin, (my little chick)
min gros rojin (my big raisin)
Te m’f’ras du chagrin, (you will make me sad)
si te n’dors point (ch’) qu’à d’min (if you don’t sleep until tomorrow).
This lullaby is a traditional ch’ti song originating from northern France and written in mid 19th century.
Funnily enough, my grandad of Belgian origin (who came to France post-war, as a young boy) used to sing it to my brother and me when we were children. It is one of those memories that stayed with the family.
I sang it to my own boys when they were children and therefore know the song (as well as quite a lot of ch’ti expressions/language).
Whenever I hear it (or sing it in my head), it always brings back memories of summer months during which my brother and me would spend July and August with my grandparents on the coast. Fond memories indeed!