"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'' (lyr ...

with the lyrics by Jacques Plante. "Maître Pierre" had already been recorded by numerous French performers when

Mitchell Parish Mitchell Parish (born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky; July 10, 1900 – March 31, 1993) was an American lyricist, notably as a writer of songs for stage and screen. Biography Parish was born to a Jewish family in Lithuania, Russian Empire in July 19 ...

wrote the English lyrics in 1951, titled "The Windmill Song", which became popular in the United States when performed by

The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (Janua ...

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 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 stron ...

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 ...

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 Yvette Giraud (16 September 1916 – 3 August 2014) was a French traditional pop singer. Career Giraud began singing in 1946 with "Mademoiselle Hortensia", or ''La Danseuse est Créole''. With her husband, former ''Compagnon de la Chanson'' Ma ...

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 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 recorded the song with Allan McIver 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 Fernand Gignac (March 23, 1934 – August 18, 2006) was a French Canadian singer and actor. Beside his music career under the label Fleur-de-Lis, Gignac also starred in several television series (including '' Symphorien'', 1968). Gignac died on ...

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 and his Orchestra on the TV show ''Le Palmarès des chansons''. In 1974, Marcel Amont 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 Pierre Perret (born 9 July 1934 in Castelsarrasin, Tarn-et-Garonne) is a French singer and composer. Pierre Perret resides in the city of Nangis. Biography He spent a long part of his childhood in the café which his parents owned, where he ...

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,

wrote the English lyrics for the recording of the song by

with

Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins (May 12, 1910 – May 1, 1984) was an American arranger, composer, and pianist who was influential in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s. Jenkins worked with The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, L ...

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 ''Compositeurs et Chansons de Paris'' is a French short film directed by Henri Verneuil in 1951. Synopsis Little known to the general public for the benefit of the performers, composers present a sample of their talent through several songs. ...

''. 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