"The Windmill Song" is the English version of the French popular song "Maître Pierre", composed in 1948 by

Henri Betti Henri Betti, born Ange Betti (24 July 1917 – 7 July 2005), was a French composer and a pianist. Pianist and composer of Maurice Chevalier from 1940 to 1945, Henri Betti is best known for composing the music of the songs ''C'est si bon'' (lyric ...

with the lyrics by Jacques Plante. "Maître Pierre" had already been recorded by numerous French performers when Mitchell Parish wrote the English lyrics in 1951, titled "The Windmill Song", which became popular in the United States when performed by The Andrews Sisters that year.

Story

In 1948,

met Jacques Plante at the SACEM who told him that he had the idea of writing a song referring to the 1947 strikes by coal miners in France. Plante told Betti that the song would speak about a young employee who works in the countryside in a mill which is directed by a man whose name is Maître Pierre. The employee is tired, and decides to leave and find a new job in Paris. Unable to find a job, he returns to the mill where he worked before. When he arrives at the mill and he sees the director again, he tells him : "Il fait bon chez vous Maître Pierre" ("It's good to be home, Master Pierre"). The song was a great success and the Ministry of Culture asked that the song be learned in schools.

Cover versions

On November 16, 1948, Tohama recorded the song with

Raymond Legrand Raymond Paul Legrand (May 23, 1908 in Paris – November 25, 1974 in Montreal) was a French composer and conductor. Career Legrand studied harmony and orchestration as a pupil of Gabriel Faure. In the realms of jazz and light music, he made arran ...

and his Orchestra. On December 10, 1948,

Yves Montand Ivo Livi (), better known as Yves Montand (; 13 October 1921 – 9 November 1991), was an Italian-French actor and singer. Early life Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, to Giovanni Livi, a broom manufacturer, Ivo held strong ...

recorded the song with an orchestra led by

, the song's composer. On January 5, 1949,

Georges Guétary Georges Guétary (), born Lambros Vorloou ( el, Λάμπρος Βορλόου ; February 8, 1915 – September 13, 1997) was a French singer, dancer, cabaret performer and film actor, best known for his role in the 1951 musical ''An American ...

recorded the song with Marius Coste and his Orchestra. In 1974, he sang the song on the TV show ''Midi trente'', in 1976 on the TV show ''Système deux'' with Jean Claudric and his Orchestra and in 1984 on the TV show ''Cadence trois'' with

Jean-Claude Borelly Jean-Claude Borelly is a French trumpeter and composer. Background At the age of seven he developed a passion for the trumpet after discovering Louis Armstrong on television. He met a prominent trumpeter of the Paris Opera who, touched by his f ...

and his Orchestra. On January 21, 1949, Jacqueline François recorded the song with Guy Luypaerts and his Orchestra. On January 28, 1949, Jean Patart recorded the song with Maurice Jeanjean and his Orchestra. On February 14, 1949, Yvette Giraud recorded the song with

Jacques-Henry Rys Jacques-Henry Rys (1909–1960) was a 20th-century French composer and conductor. In the late 1940s and during the 1950s, Jacques-Henry Rys was a renowned conductor of light music, who led many recordings for major pop stars of the era, including ...

and his Orchestra. On February 15, 1949,

Louis Ferrari Louis Ferrari (1910–1987) was an Italian musette accordionist and composer who was active in France beginning in the 1930s. He established the Ferrari & Son Ensemble which played in Parisian clubs. Louis Ferrari was also the cousin of jazz accord ...

recorded the song with his Orchestra. On March 28, 1949, Les Compagnons de la chanson recorded the song with Marc Herrand and his Orchestra. On September 22, 1949,

Jean Marco Jean Marco (born Jean Marcopoulos; 17 December 1923 – 24 June 1953), was a French singer and composer. Lead singer of the orchestra of Jacques Hélian from 1947 to his death in 1953, Jean Marco is the first performer of ''C'est si bon'' in 19 ...

, Jo Charrier and Ginette Garcin recorded the song with

Jacques Hélian Jacques Mikaël Der Mikaëlian better known as Jacques Hélian (born in Paris, 7 June 1912 - died 29 June 1986), was a famous French orchestra conductor for French music-hall. Biography Born of an Armenian father (descendant of Armenian bourge ...

and his Orchestra. The same year,

Lucille Dumont Lucille Dumont (born Lucelle Dumont; January 20, 1919 – July 29, 2016) was a Canadian singer and radio and television host. She is credited by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame with having "served and personified Quebec popular music" and p ...

recorded the song with

Allan McIver Joseph Allan McIver (17 January 1904 – 15 June 1969) was a Canadian composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor. As a pianist he performed with orchestras in the Quebec region in his early career and was the longtime accompanist and arranger ...

and his Orchestra. In 1950, Betti sang the song with

Paul Durand Paul Durand (1907–1977) was a French composer. He scored a number of films during the postwar era in France. He adapted the tune of "Bolero" for the 1950 hit song ''All My Love''.Tyler p.308 Selected filmography * '' Donne-moi tes yeux'' (1943 ...

and his Orchestra on the radio program ''Paris Montréal'' and with piano on the radio program ''Gala de Bernay''. The same year, Linette Lemercier recorded the song with

Marcel Cariven Marcel Auguste Antoine Cariven, (18 April 1894, Toulouse – 5 November 1979, Crosne near Paris)Jula De Palma recorded the song with Bruno Quirinetta and his Orchestra. In 1957, Betti, Andrex and Roger Lanzac sang the song with Georges Dervaux and his Orchestra on the TV show ''36 Chansons''. In 1961, Fernand Gignac recorded the song with Roger Pilon and his Orchestra. The same year, Paulette Rollin recorded the song for the album ''Paulette Rollin Chante pour les Enfants''. In 1966, Les Trois Ménestrels sang the song with

Raymond Lefèvre Raymond Lefèvre (20 November 1929 – 27 June 2008) was a French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer. Biography and career Born on 20 November 1929 in Calais, France, Raymond Lefèvre is best known for his interpretation of ...

and his Orchestra on the TV show ''Le Palmarès des chansons''. In 1974,

Marcel Amont Marcel Amont (; born Marcel Jean-Pierre Balthazar Miramon on April 1, 1929) is a French singer and actor of the 1960s and 1970s. Amont also recorded in Occitan and promoted Bearn culture from the 1950s.Cinéma - Numéros 301 à 312 1984 - - Page ...

sang the song on the TV show ''Toutankhamont''. In 1980, Jacqueline François and Jacques Martin sang the song with Robert Quibel and his Orchestra on the TV show ''Thé Dansant''. In 1985, Charles Level performed the song on ''Thé Dansant''. In 1995, Sophie Darel recorded the song in duet with Pierre Perret for the album ''C'était les Années Bleues''. In 2013, Jean-Jacques Debout recorded the song with musical arrangements by Jacques Ferchit for the album ''Sous le Soleil des Guinguettes''.

Adaptation

In 1951, Mitchell Parish wrote the English lyrics for the recording of the song by The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra. This adaptation is titled "The Windmill Song".

Filmography

In 1951, Jacques Pills sang the song with an orchestra led by

in '' Compositeurs et Chansons de Paris''. In 1953, the melody was played in '' Le Portrait de son père''.

Bibliography

* ''Henri Betti : Récit autobiographique'', Embrasure, Paris, 1993. * ''Henri Betti : une Vie en chansons'', Paul Beuscher, Paris, 2006.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Windmill Song 1948 songs French songs Songs with music by Henri Betti Songs with lyrics by Mitchell Parish Yves Montand songs The Andrews Sisters songs Works about windmills