This is a popular song from Franche-Comté. There is no historical indication but there is the nightingale theme. Nightingale is the cantor of love, a harbinger and an originator (“dis-moi comment parler d’amour…”) (tell me how talking about love), this theme is very old because it was present in Antiquity and in many cultures. French culture also contains many songs dealing with nightingale. Jospeh Canteloube mentioned a fifth stanza (which is not in this score): “Que veux-tu que je te donne? T’ai-je pas donné assez? Je serai toujours ta mie; Je t’ai donné ma tendresse Et tu garderas mon coeur!” (What do you want me to give you? Didn’t I give you enough? I will always be your dear one. I gave you tenderness And you will keep my heart!)
