Auprès de mon arbre

I dumped my oak like a scoundrel
My buddy the oak, my alter ego
We were cut from the same wood, a bit rustic, a bit rough
That we use for anything except, of course, flutes
Now I have ash trees, trees from Judea
All of good stock, tall trees
But you're missing, my old country branch
My only Christmas tree, my pole of fun

Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have strayed from my tree
Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have taken my eyes off it

I'm a poor guy, I would have more joy
I threw away my pipe, my old wooden pipe
That smoked without getting angry, without ever burning my lip
The tobacco of the mad cow in its good old pipe head

I have pipes of foam adorned with fleurons
Of those pipes smoked with head held high
But I will never find my faith in my heart or on my lip
The taste of my old wooden pipe, damn it

Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have strayed from my tree
Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have taken my eyes off it

The nickname of infamous suits me like a glove
With my wife I hit the road
Because for so many years it was not easy
To always see her nose in the middle of her face
I roam the countryside to find
A new partner, worth that one
Who, of course, left too many
Stones in the lentils
But hung on my neck when I lost my marbles

Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have strayed from my tree
Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have taken my eyes off it

I had an attic for a home
With cracks in the sky
I knew it by heart since
And for a kiss the race
I took my beauties of the night
For a ride on the Big Dipper

I no longer live in the attic, it can now
Pour down rain, I don't care
But if someone goes up to the sky
I pay less than me
There are a hundred and seven years, who can say better
That I haven't seen the moon

Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have strayed from my tree
Next to my tree I lived happily
I should never have taken my eyes off it