I never needed to take off my hat for anyone.
Now, I see me crawl, with both hands I clap, if she rings me once.
I was naughty hound, now in her palm hand, she makes me come eat.
I had the wolf's fangs, I have changed them for lil' baby teeth.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when we want to lay her.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her.
I was a badass, by her converted, fly's so dexterous1.
And I was falling all hot, all roasted so close to her mouth,
That has baby teeth when she is smiling when she is singing.
And the wolf's sharp fangs when she is fury, that she is so mean.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when we want to lay her.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her ...
I'm under her yoke, I, softly walking, balance on tightrope.
Because she's jealous beyond anything, and even worse.
A periwinkle2 appeared to me still cuter than she.
Pretty periwinkle one day is dead under blows of sunshade.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when we want to lay her.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her ...
All the sleepwalkers, all the magicians don't shenanigans,
Her arms crossed on me, annunciation of my last sufferance.
There are ones worse, there are ones better.
But on other hand, be hanged on here, be hanged elsewhere,
If we'll be hanged.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who shuts her eyes when we want to lay her.
Made myself all small in front of a doll
Who says "Mommy!" when one touches her ...
1. "fly" (the insect, therefore) is in double ways here, "fine mouche" (French popular expression) applies to people endowed with subtle intelligence and endowed with a great sense of intuition. Example: She immediately smelled the case, it's a fine fly!. But it also designates the fly which is used by the aristocracy in the XVIII century for face make-up - a small black point that the woman placed on her white face. "The fly," in the art of makeup, was part of an established code that everyone had to know at the French King's court. It was one of the art of good behavior rules. Where the woman placed it, the fly delivered a message. For example, when it was placed near the mouth, it meant that the woman was open to a possible encounter, that she was free, in fact ...2. ** "Periwinkle" (Pervenche) This word in French indicates a woman police officer who draws up the reports of infractions of the highway code and more particularly, the bad parking. Their real name is "contractual" (contractuelle). But the French gave them the nickname "periwinkle" because the color of their uniform was similar to that of the flower.
But it's also possible that expression wasn't still used at the time whence this song was written, in that case, it could just désignate a young woman.