Passereau’s most famous chanson, like most of his works, is light-hearted and uses nonsense syllables to imitate the clucking of chickens. This composition was sung as far away as Venice. While Passereau may have gotten the idea from Janequin, who was writing onomatopoeic chansons as early as 1515 (Il est bel et bon was published in 1534), its popularity rivaled that of the music of Janequin, and printer Pierre Attaingnant devoted a book entirely to the music of the two composers (in 1536).

Text

Il est bel et bon, bon, bon, commère, mon mari.

Il était deux femmes toutes d’un pays,
disant l’une à l’autre: “Avez bon mari?”

Il ne me courroucé ne me bat aussi.
Il fait le ménage, il donne aux poulailles,
et je prends mes plaisirs.

Commère ç’est pour rire quand les poulailles crient: “Co co dae”
Petite coquette, qu’est ceci?

Translation

He is handsome and good, friend*, my husband.

There were two women of the country,
saying to one another: “Do you have a good husband?”

He doesn’t get angry at me or beat me either.
He does the chores, he feeds the chickens,
and I take my pleasure.

Friend, it is funny when the chickens call out: “Co co dae”
Little chick, what is this?

*literally: “gossiper”