Refrain: Ils étaient trois petits enfants Qui s'en allaient glaner aux champs.
1. Tant sont allés tant sont venus, Que sur le soir se sont perdus. S'en sont allés chez le boucher: "Boucher voudrais-tu nous loger ?"
Refrain
2. "Entrez, entrez, petits enfants Il y a d' la place assurément." Ils n'étaient pas sitôt entrés, Que le boucher les a tués. Autre version Ils n'étaient pas sitôt entrés Que le boucher les a tués Les a coupés en p'tits morceaux, Mis au saloir comme pourceaux
Refrain
3. Saint Nicolas au bout d' sept ans Vint à passer dedans ce champ, Alla frapper chez le boucher: "Boucher voudrais-tu me loger ?"
Refrain
4. Entrez, entrez, Saint Nicolas, Il y a d' la place, il n'en manqu' pas." Il n'était pas sitôt entré Qu'il a demandé à souper.
Refrain
5. "Du p'tit salé je veux avoir, Qu'il y a sept ans qu'est au saloir". Quand le boucher entendit ça, Hors de sa porte il s'enfuya*
Refrain
6."Boucher, boucher, ne t'enfuis pas ! Repens-toi, Dieu te pardonnera". Saint Nicolas alla s'asseoir Dessus le bord de ce saloir
Refrain:
7."Petits enfants qui dormez là, Je suis le grand Saint Nicolas." Le grand saint étendit trois doigts, Les p'tits se levèrent tous les trois.
Refrain
8. Le premier dit: "J'ai bien dormi". Le second dit:" Et moi aussi". A ajouté le plus petit: "Je me croyais au paradis !"
Refrain
(English)
(Chorus) They were three little children Who went a-gleaning in the fields.
1. They went so much to, so much fro That by the evening, they got lost. They went to the butcher's house. "Butcher, would you give us lodging?"
Chorus
2. "Come in, come in, little children There's room, for sure." No sooner had they come in, Then the butcher killed them. Other version No sooner had they come in, Then the butcher killed them. He cut them into small pieces, Put them in the salting-tub as piglets.
Chorus
3. Saint Nicholas, after seven years, Happened to pass in this field. He went to knock at the butcher's door, "Butcher, would you give me lodging?"
Chorus
4. "Come in, come in, Saint Nicholas. There's room, no shortage of it". No sooner had he come in, Then he requested to supper.
Chorus
5. "I want some of the salted meat, That's been for seven years in the salting-tub." When the butcher heard that He ran away from his house.
Chorus
6. "Butcher, butcher, don't run away! Repent, God will forgive you". Saint Nicholas went to sit down On the edge of this salting-tub.
Chorus
7."Little children who're sleeping there I am the great Saint Nicholas." The great saint stretched out three fingers. The little ones got up, the three of them.
Chorus
8. The first one said "I slept well." The second one said "And I did too." The youngest one added: "I thought I was in paradise!"