𝕾𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖚𝖓 𝖆𝖚𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖓𝖔𝖒

Jeanne Baret (1740–1807) was born in France and worked alongside the naturalist Philibert Commerson with plants and botanical collections. She is believed to have been the first woman to circumnavigate the world. How this came to be - and why her name remained in the shadows for so long - is the story told in this song. The English translation follows after the French song lyrics. 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺 [Verse 1] Je suis née en Bourgogne, dans un milieu modeste, Loin des cercles savants, de leur monde et leurs gestes. Auprès de Commerson, je travaillais aux fleurs, Je l’aidais dans ses travaux, attentive à leurs couleurs. [Pre-Chorus 1] Quand vint l’heure de partir vers des pays lointains, La mer m’était fermée par des interdits humains. Une femme à bord ne pouvait embarquer, Alors sous le nom de « Jean », j’ai dû me déguiser. [Chorus] Sous un autre nom, j’ai parcouru les mers, À la recherche de plantes sur des terres étrangères. Mon nom restait dans l’ombre au milieu des savants, Mais j’étais sur le terrain, présente à chaque instant. [Instrumental Interlude] [Verse 2] À chaque nouvelle escale, nous partions explorer, Observer chaque plante, la cueillir, la conserver. Commerson, son ulcère lui causant la douleur, Je portais le matériel pour poursuivre le labeur. [Pre-Chorus 2] De nombreux spécimens sont aujourd’hui gardés, Sous le nom de Commerson, ils furent enregistrés. Mais qui cueillit la feuille et reconnut la fleur ? Les archives ont un nom, sans révéler l’auteur. [Chorus] Sous un autre nom, j’ai parcouru les mers, À la recherche de plantes sur des terres étrangères. Mon nom restait dans l’ombre au milieu des savants, Mais j’étais sur le terrain, présente à chaque instant. [Verse 3] À l’Île de France enfin, nous avons débarqué, Laissant partir l’expédition, nous y sommes restés. Après la mort de Commerson, j’ai poursuivi ma vie, Puis quelque temps plus tard, vers la France je repartis. [Pre-Chorus 3] Pour avoir pris la mer, j’avais bravé la loi, Avec l’appui de Bougainville, on reconnut mes droits. Mon parcours fut reconnu, le roi me félicita, Puis une pension annuelle enfin l’attesta. [Chorus Final] Sous un autre nom, j’ai parcouru les mers, À la recherche de plantes sur des terres étrangères. Revenue en France enfin, mon long voyage s’achevait, Et mon tour de la Terre avec lui se complétait. [Instrumental Interlude] [Outro] Commerson voulut qu’un genre me soit un jour dédié, Mais mourut avant même de pouvoir le publier. Bien plus tard, deux espèces vinrent me célébrer, Et mon nom dans la flore put enfin demeurer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENGLISH [Verse 1] I was born in Burgundy, into humble circumstances, Far from learned circles, from their world and their ways. Alongside Commerson, I worked with flowers, I helped him in his work, attentive to their colors. [Pre-Chorus 1] When the time came to leave for distant lands, The sea was closed to me by human prohibitions. A woman could not embark on board, So under the name of “Jean,” I had to disguise myself. [Chorus] Under another name, I traveled across the seas, In search of plants in foreign lands. My name remained in the shadows among the scholars, But I was there in the field, present at every moment. [Instrumental Interlude] [Verse 2] At every new stop, we set out to explore, To observe each plant, collect it, and preserve it. Commerson, his ulcer causing him pain, I carried the equipment so we could continue our work. [Pre-Chorus 2] Many specimens are preserved today, They were recorded under Commerson’s name. But who collected the leaf and recognized the flower? The archives give a name without revealing the author. [Chorus] Under another name, I traveled across the seas, In search of plants in foreign lands. My name remained in the shadows among the scholars, But I was there in the field, present at every moment. [Verse 3] At last, we disembarked on the Isle of France, Letting the expedition depart, we remained there. After Commerson’s death, I continued with my life, Then, some time later, I returned to France. [Pre-Chorus 3] By taking to the sea, I had defied the law, With Bougainville’s support, my rights were recognized. My journey was acknowledged, the king congratulated me, Then an annual pension finally confirmed it. [Final Chorus] Under another name, I traveled across the seas, In search of plants in foreign lands. At last, back in France, my long journey came to an end, And with it, my voyage around the world was completed. [Instrumental Interlude] [Outro] Commerson wanted a genus to be dedicated to me one day, But died before he was able to publish it. Much later, two species came to honor me, And at last, my name could live on in the world of plants.