Il es ne or He (Christ) is Born is an Acadian song remembered from long ago brings back memories

"Il est ne" sung by Kate and Anna McGarrigle

By Terry Wamback, Nova Scotia – Once upon there were three lovely little girls, named Alexis, Terry and Donna. They grew up in a normal family environment with parents who loved to sing. Their parents, John and Vera Pottie, taught Alexis, Terry and Donna many songs just by living at their home. There were war songs, Irish songs, Christmas songs, a few bawdy tunes, to name just a few.

John especially loved to sing songs from the “Pinafore”; an operetta in which he performed during his high school years, and at Christmas, the French carol, “Il est ne”.

Il es ne sung by Kate and Anna McGarrigle

One day a few weeks ago Terry was in school and her vice principal came in the office humming “Il es ne”. Terry commented to him about her Dad singing that song many years ago.

The Vice Principal had just received a Christmas CD – Annie Lennox – and his family sung that song in their car on the way to school. The vice principal’s two little daughters are in French Immersion; just like Donna’s two little daughters were many years ago.

Terry went back home that night and searched her Christmas music and found, alas, she had no tapes, CD’s, anything, with “Il es ne”. She called her older sister, Lex, who said the only record she recalled with the carol was an old Mitch Miller LP.

The next day Terry was back at school, helping serve Christmas dinner to all the children. She told the Vice Principal her story about searching unsuccessfully for “Il es ne”.

Yesterday, the last day of school before Christmas, the Vice Principal gave Terry a copy of the CD “A Christmas Cornucopia” by Annie Lennox.

And that’s why Christmas is a special time.

Terry Wamback, Petite Riviere, NS

Editor – Terry, Alexis and Donna are my cousins. They are the grandchildren of Isidore Elias and Sophie (Briand) Pottie. Both my grandparents were born in Richmond County, Cape Breton. My grandfather’s birth certificate read Isidore Elias Pâté. We are Acadians who migrated to Halifax before World War I and changed to Pottie, which is more “English.” Very little of the Acadian culture was retained over the decades of assimilation in Halifax, which had a 200 year history of antipathy to Acadians.

I’m glad to hear my Uncle Johnny taught his girls a bit of our Acadian roots. Thanks to Lexi for sharing Terry’s story and Terry for letting us print it.

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Kate and Anna McGarrigle singing Il es ne is found on Mcgarrigle Christmas Hour. Or in the United States at Amazon.com.

The Annie Lennox version is available on A Christmas Cornucopia. Or in the United States at Amazon.com.

Lyrics en française

Il est ne, le divin Enfant,
Jouez, hautbois, resonnez, musettes;
Il est ne, le divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son avenement!

Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous le promettaient les Prophetes;
Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous attendions cet heureux temps.
Il est ne, le divin Enfant…

Ah! qu’ll est beau, qu’il est charmant,
Que ses graces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu’ll est beau, qu’ll est charmant,
Qu’il est doux le divin Enfant!
Il est ne, le divin Enfant…

Une etable est son logement,
Unpeu de paille, sa couchette,
Une etable est son logement,
Pour un Dieu, quel abaissement!
Il est ne, le divin Enfant…

O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Tout petit enfant que vous etes,
O Jesus! O Roi tout puissant!
Regnez sur nous entierement!
Il est ne, le divin Enfant…