The music "Quand Madelon", originally a march composed by Camille Robert, was endowed with lyrics in 1914 by Louis Bousquet.
Charles Joseph Pasquier, known as Bach, then transformed it into a song, which during the Great War was sung by all the "poilus" and other "pioupious", names that were used to designate French squaddies engaged in that bloody adventure.
Translated into English in 1917 by Basset, sang by great talented soloists like Polin, Adolphe Bérard, Line Renaud, Paul Barré, the song "Quand Madelon" has become a popular legend: that of the battle world of the First World War.
The accompaniment you find here, recorded in 1919, was done by Bach himself.
There is a tavern way down in Brittany
Where weary sol-diers take their liberty
The keeper’s daughter whose name is Madelon
Pours out the wine while they laugh and “carry on”
And while the wine goes to their senses
Her sparkling glance goes to their hearts
Their admiration so intense is
Each one his tale of love imparts
She coquettes with them all
but favors none at all
And here’s the way they banter ev’ry time they call
1st chorus
O Madelon you are the only one
O Madelon for you we’ll carry on
It’s so long since we have seen a miss
Won’t you give us just a kiss
But Madelon she takes it all in fun
She laugh and says “You’ll see it can’t be done
I would like but how can I consent
When I’m true to the whole regiment”
He was a fair hair'd boy from Brittany
She was a blue eyed maid from Normandy
He said Goodbye to this pretty Madelon
He went his way with the boys who carry on
And when his noble work was ended
He said fairwell to his command
Back to his Madelon he wended
To claim her lit-tle heart and hand
With lovelight in his glance
This gallant son of France
He murmur’s as she listens with her heart entranc’d
2nd chorus
O Madelon you are the only one
O Madelon now that the foe has gone
Let the wedding bells ring sweet and gay
Let this be our wedding day
O Madelon sweet maid of Normandy
Like Joan of Arc You’ll always be to me
All thru life for you I’ll carry on
Madelon Madelon Madelon