Helen's clogs were all muddy
The three captains would have called her ugly
And poor Helen was like a tormented soul
No longer search for a fountain, you who need water
No longer search, go fill your bucket with Helen's tears

I took the trouble to take them off
Helen's clogs, I who am not a captain
And I saw my trouble well rewarded
In the clogs of poor Helen, in her muddy clogs
I found the feet of a queen and I kept them

Her woolen petticoat was all moth-eaten
The three captains would have called her ugly
And poor Helen was like a tormented soul
No longer search for a fountain, you who need water
No longer search, go fill your bucket with Helen's tears

I took the trouble to roll it up
Helen's petticoat, I who am not a captain
And I saw my trouble well rewarded
Under the petticoat of poor Helen, under her moth-eaten petticoat
I found the legs of a queen and I kept them

And Helen's heart didn't know how to sing
The three captains would have called her ugly
And poor Helen was like a tormented soul
No longer search for a fountain, you who need water
No longer search, go fill your bucket with Helen's tears

I took the trouble to stop there
In Helen's heart, I who am not a captain
And I saw my trouble well rewarded
And in the heart of poor Helen who had never sung
I found the love of a queen and I kept it

CONSULTER LES PAROLES ORIGINALES