Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Inky, Dinky Polly Vous

In honor of Armistice Day -- Veterans' Day in the U.S. -- I've been thinking about Dough Boys, anciens combattants and old soldiers' drinking songs.  Mademoiselle from Armentieres specifically.  I'm sure I heard it while watching any number of old black and white movies about World War I, but never really retained much of the lyrics except the refrain, "Hinky-dinky parlez-vous."  Which of course I used to think was... by George you've got it! 

Now that I have found out what some of the lyrics really are, I think it best if the bulk of the bawdy lyrics remain mumbled, kind of beer-sloshed as in this clip.






Related posts:

Chez les Rougier

In Flanders Fields

5 comments:

Jake Dear said...

I’m reminded of all the WWI cemeteries we’ve seen in France, and a special Armistice day, two years ago (2007).

We were just outside Vezelay (in Burgundy), staying in a small countryside hotel. The proprietor told us to make sure to show up in the morning at the appointed hour for the village’s annual ceremony -- at the WWI monument, bein sur.

We arrived with the rest of the villagers, and the officiating mayor, acknowledging us, amended his talk to note the huge sacrifice of American lives in the neighboring fields. (It turns of that our hotel proprietor told the mayor that her American guests would attend.)

Then the mayor and most of the assembled group returned to our small hotel for drinks and conversation. (This is just one example of things one can experience in the real French countryside.)

Jake

Polly-Vous Francais said...

What a great story, Jake. Thank you. And if you ever went back to Vezelay, I bet they would remember and greet you.

Starman said...

Unless they've changed the lyrics, I didn't find them that risque.

Starman said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Polly!

Polly-Vous Francais said...

Merci, Starman!

Locations of visitors to this page
Travel Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory blog search directory Targeted Website Traffic - Webmasters helping webmasters develop high value relevant links. Promoting ethical web-marketing using the time trusted pillars of relevance and popularity.