​

Dominique, -nique, -nique
​Dominic, -nic, -nic

The composer and the first performer of this melody was Soeur Sourire, also called The Singing Nun. She was born in Belgium on 17th of October 1933 as Jeanine Deckers. As a young girl she attended an art school, where she developed her musical talents: she learned how to sing and to perform, and how to write her own music.
Jeanine Deckers did not come from a very strict family, and though she had nothing against marriage, she felt more at ease with a convent life. In 1950 she joined the Dominican Convent, changed her name to "Sister Luc-Gabrielle" and took the vow of poverty. In retrospect, entering the convent was rather a flight than a choice of conviction.  Till that time, life had not brought her what she had expected, she wanted to get away from her mother who interfered too much with her life ...
At the convent sister Luc-Gabrielle went on singing and playing the guitar for church groups, and she adopted the stage name "Soeur Sourire" (Sister Smile), a name that was given her after a survey among students. In that way she was discovered by Philips Record Co, who offered her a contract. All profits from her singing and records were donated to the convent, because of her vow of poverty.
In 1963 sister Luc-Gabrielle wrote "Dominique", a tribute to the founder of the Dominican Order. This song would be her only big hit, but it was known and translated all over the world. With "Dominique" she won the Grammy Award for the best gospel song of the year. In 1964 a taped version of her singing that song was broadcasted on the Ed Sullivan Show. In the same year The Beatles appeared there also. In 1965 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer turned her life into a movie, with Debbie Reynolds in the titular role. Soeur Sourire wrote most of the music for it.
Maybe it was because of all the publicity, but the same year, 1965, Soeur Sourire stopped performing and she concentrated on her studies in the convent.
In 1966 Soeur Sourire left the convent, she resumed her singing career and adopted the name Luc-Dominique, combining her convent name with the name of her big hit. She joined with a woman, Annie Pescher, and together they owned and operated a school for authistic children.
​In the years 1980 the Belgian government claimed Luc-Dominique owed more than 60000 $ of back taxes on money she had earned during her singing career while being a nun. Though she had donated all the money to the convent, still the Belgian government pressed her to pay the money nonetheless. In 1985 Luc-Dominique and Annie Pescher together committed suicide, taking an overdose of sleeping pills. The song which had given her name and fame, caused her demise in the end.
Soeur Sourire performing Dominique
 Performances: in German ; in Spanish ;  in English ; in Dutch ; in 6 languages ; instrumental
               
                                                                                                 VIDEO SCORE
French lyrics:

refrain:
Dominique, nique, nique
S’en allait tout simplement,
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux,
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu

A l’époque où Jean Sans Terre, 
d’Angleterre était le roi
Dominique notre père, 
combattit les Albigeois.

refrain

Certain jour un hérétique, 
par des ronces le conduit
Mais notre Père Dominique, 
par sa joie le convertit

Ni chameau, ni diligence, 
il parcourt l’Europe à pied
Scandinavie ou Provence, 
dans la sainte pauvreté

Enflamma de toutes écoles 
filles et garçons pleins d’ardeur
Et pour semer la Parole, 
inventa les Frères-Prêcheurs

Chez Dominique et ses frères, 
le pain s’en vint à manquer
Et deux anges se présentèrent, 
portant deux grands pains dorés

Dominique vit en rêve, 
les pêcheurs du monde entier
Sous le manteau de la Vierge, 
en grand nombre rassemblés.

Dominique, mon bon Père, 
garde-nous simples et gais
Pour annoncer à nos frères, 
la Vie et la Vérité.

Dominique, nique, nique
S’en allait tout simplement,
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux,
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
English text:

refrain:
Dominic, nic, nic
Dominic did simply walk,
Sing and had got no stock,
One heard him in every lane, 
Praising nothing but God`s name,
Praising nothing but God`s name

In the epoch of John Lackland,
Who the king of England was,
Dominic took his true priest`s hand
In that fight the Cathars lost.

refrain

Once a heretic told: “Father! 
To the light I`ve always led!"
Dominic joyed with the brother
And converted him instead.

Neither diligence, nor camel,
He walked poor and by foot.
Across Europe did he travel,
Having nothing but his mood.

He inspired all the children
From the schools with great ardour.
And the Brothers-Preachers he ran,
Sowing the Word still more.

Dominic`s monks were imperilled
Having nothing to get fed
And two angels came who carried
Two big loaves of gilt bread.

Dominic had a night vision 
That all fishers of the world,
Covered by the Holy Virgin,
Gathered, staunch and manifold.

Dominic, the father, keep us
Cheerful, simple, brave and smooth,
For we help the brothers lift up
With the Word of Life and Truth!

​Dominic, nic, nic
Dominic did simply walk,
Sing and had got no stock,
One heard him in every lane, 
Praising nothing but God`s name,
Praising nothing but God`s name

Translation by accordeonworld​
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique ;