Si le Bon Dieu l'avait voulu [English translation]

If the Good God had wished it

Fa la la la, Fa la lay

I would have known that Cleopatra woman1

An I wouldn't have known you.

I would have known that Cleopatra woman

And I wouldn't have known you.

Without your love that I idolise,

Oh woe!, What would I have become?

If the Good God had wished it

I would have known that Messaline2 woman,

Agnes, Odette and Melusine,

And I wouldn't have known you.

I would have known that Pomapour person,

Naomi, Sarah, Rebecca,

The Royal Drummer's daughter,

And that Mogador woman, and Clara.

But the Good God didn't wish

me to know their love,

I knew you and you knew me

Glory to God in the highest of heavens!

Oh woe! what would I have become

Without you by night, without you by day?

I knew you and you knew me

Glory to God in the highest of heavens!

1. "la" in the French probably is intended to give the impression that Cleopatra is someone close by and knwn about (if not known personally), the nearest equivalent in English I can think of is "that C woman"2. the long list of women are all famous (or infamous) in (French or Classical) history or legend