The Box Lyrics
"Checkmate/quand Le Roy"

Once upon a time, and many miles away
Looking for adventure, travelling across the country
Four young men created an attraction
Telling pretty stories and playing an instument
Hey!

Ordinary people returning from the fields
Gathered on the place, a woodshed set aflame
Dancing all around, and headied by the wine
Striking up a song, everybody cheered....

(CHORUS)
And it's
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Quand le roy s'en va-t-en guerre (When the king goes to war)
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Administer l'or du peuple
(To go spend [administer] the people's gold)
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Notre reine a la cuisse légère
(Our queen with the "light thigh" [wandering heart])
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! et le roy restera l'éternel cocu!
(And the king who will be none the wiser!)

Watching from a distance, his Majesty the King
Wondering what it is that causes such a hubbub
Calls for an inquiry of what appears to be
A source of entertainment, a remedy to boredom

And the king's court emissary finally comes back
Troubled by the wine, stammers his report
Delighted by the news, his Majesty decides
The band will play tomorrow, for the court to entertain!

(CHORUS)
And it's
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Quand le roy s'en va-t-en guerre
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Administer l'or du peuple
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Notre reine a la cuisse légère
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! et le roy restera l'éternel cocu!

One ne revit plus jamais, notre quatuor errant
(We never again saw the wanderers)
Mais la culture d'un pays ne se meurt point facilement
(But the culture of a country does not die easily)
Si vous allez donc un jour du côté de ce village
(So if you go on that side of the village)
Vous endentrez surement entonner à forte voix.
... (You'll surely hear the echoing voice.....)

(CHORUS)
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Quand le roy s'en va-t-en guerre
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Administer l'or du peuple
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Notre reine a la cuisse légère
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! et le roy restera l'éternel....

Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Quand le roy s'en va-t-en guerre
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Administer l'or du peuple
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! Notre reine a la cuisse légère
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! et le roy restera l'éternel cocu!