Chez nous

Ah! mon beau château

C’est la Chandeleur

Dansons la capucine

Le grand cerf

Toc, toc, toc, toc

Last updated: 10/30/2014 2:52 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Hop-là!’ The French collection

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

To listen to music from these songs click on O

To watch and listen to the rhyme click on the title at:

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

· you must give the original author credit

· you may not use this work for commercial purposes

· for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

· any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

Ah! Mon beau château O

This song dates from 18^th century and evokes a time when feudal lords were engaged in small local battles attacking castles in the neighbourhood.

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ascw28mmp44

Directions:

Two circles, one inside the other and each representing a castle, move in opposite directions, swinging hands back and forth. Each circle takes a turn to sing a verse. The outer ring, slightly smaller in number, begins. Once a verse is sung a child from the inner ring is chosen to join the outer one. Continue until one big outer circle is formed. Each time different objects such as toys or cakes are offered until one child is left and the present is accepted.

Ah! mon beau château, Ma tante tire, lire, lire, Ah! mon beau château, Ma tante tire, lire, lo. Le nôtre est plus beaux, Ma tante tire, lire, lire, Le nôtre est plus beaux, Ma tante tire, lire, lo. Nous le détruirons … Laquelle prendez-vous … Celle que voici … Que lui donnerez-vous … De jolis bijoux … Nous n’en voulons pas ...

Oh! my castle’s grand, My aunt tire, lire, lire, Oh! my castle’s grand, My aunt tire, lire, lo. Ours is much more grand, My aunt tire, lire, lire, Ours is much more grand, My aunt tire, lire, lo. We will knock it down, ... Well who will you take? ... We will take this one ... What will you give us? ... Jewellery we’ll give ... We do not want it ...

C’est la Chandeleur O

‘It is Candlemas’, a festival registered in the Christian calendar since 472 AD and celebrated every year on February 2^nd. The name comes from the candles carried in honour of the presentation of Jesus at the temple and of the Virgin Mary. Candlemas opens a period of carnival that lasts until Mardi Gras.

In pagan times it was called the Festival of Light. In France pancakes are traditionally made at this time. Custom is to toss the pancake in the right hand while holding a coin in the left – today a Euro will do! This ensures luck and prosperity all year; the cook may also make a wish.

A good circle (pancake shape) dance to try round Shrove Tuesday before or after pancake making.

Watch a hilarious video of pancake making at:

http://www.koreus.com/video/crepes-stop-motion.html

Quand on fait des crêpes chez nous, Ma mère vous invite, Quand on fait des crêpes chez nous, Elle vous invite tous. Une pour toi, une pour moi, Une pour mon p’tit frère François, Une pour toi, une pour moi, Une pour tous les trois! When we make pancakes at home, My mother invites you, When we make pancakes at home, She invites you all. One for you, one for me, One for little brother Fred, One for you, one for me, Three for all of us!

In pairs walk side by side in a circle. Change direction. On ‘tous’ stop and face each other. Holding both hands make sawing actions in time to the music. Older children could make up a clapping pattern for this sequence. Younger ones could dance individually then meet up with a different partner each time to make sawing actions.

Dansons la capucine O

The nasturtium is such a beautiful flower that it dances in the summer. Young French children are sometimes given ‘Capucine’ as a pet name – their parent’s small flower. This song from Bordeaux region dating from 1860-70 can also be sung as a round. Add new verses to include sundries found in the home e.g clothes, flour.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXRYaHSijtE

Directions:

1. In pairs or a circle skip round left. 2. Skip right. 3.Sit down suddenly as still as little stones. Jump up in the air. Set off again for the next verse.

Dansons la capucine, Y’a plus de pain chez nous, Y’en a chez la voisine, Mais ce n’est pas pour nous. Petit cailloux! Tiou! Dansons la capucine, Y a pas de vin chez nous, Y’en a chez la voisine, Mais ce n’est pas pour nous. Petit cailloux! Tiou! Dansons la capucine, Y a pas de feu chez nous, Y’en a chez la voisine, Mais ce n’est pas pour nous. Petit cailloux! Tiou! Dansons la capucine, Y a du plaisir chez nous, On pleure chez la voisine, On rit toujours chez nous. Petit cailloux! Tiou!

Nasturtium brightly dancing, There is no bread at home, You’ll find some at our neighbours, But for us there is none. Tiou! Spoken: Little stones! Nasturtium brightly dancing, There is no wine at home You’ll find some at our neighbours, But for us there is none. Tiou! Spoken: Little stones! Nasturtium brightly dancing, There is no fire at home, You’ll find some at our neighbours, But for us there is none. Tiou! Spoken: Little stones! Nasturtium brightly dancing, At home there’s fun for all, Not like our sad old neighbours, We always have a ball. Tiou! Spoken: Little stones!

Le grand cerf O

Another nursery favourite sung on both sides of the channel. Here a stag is the hero rather than ‘A little man at the window stood…’

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNe82AD8Mig&feature=related

Le grand cerf dans sa cabane Regardait par la lucarne, Un lapin venir vers lui, Lui criant ainsi: ‘Cerf! Cerf! Ouvre-moi, Ou le chasseur me tuera!’ ‘Lapin, lapin entre et viens, Me serez la main.’ In a log hut stood a deer, Peeping through the skylight so clear, Saw a rabbit hopping near, Crying just like this: ‘Stag! Stag! Open please Or the hunter will shoot me!’ ‘Rabbit, rabbit come indoors, Let me shake your paw.’

Make antlers, thumbs to head stretch fingers. Make hands like a roof above head. Shape a window with fore fingers and thumb. Hold rabbit ear fingers at side of head. Knock on the door. Stag antlers + open door. Shoot with fingers. Rabbit ears + come to me gesture. Shake hands with a nearby child.

Toc, toc, toc, toc O

Who is knocking at the door? Learn the French names of animals and colour and add new verses

Split children into animal groups and allocate coloured waist or wrist bands. Groups intermix when making the circle. Initially brown dogs stand outside.

Directions:

1 The circle skips round to the left.

2. The brown dogs stamp round on the outside in the opposite direction, knocking the air with one fist.

On the words ‘ouvrez’ the circle stops and hands are held high to allow the dogs to enter. Once inside they act out the role of their animal with suitable noises. They then join the circle.

Each time the game is played a new group of animals leaves the circle to walk round the outside.

Refrain

Toc, toc, toc, toc! Qui frappe à la porte? Toc, toc, toc, toc! Eh bien, écoutez. Ouvrez, ouvrez, ouvrez-moi la porte, Ouvrez, ouvrez, ouvrez s’il vous plaît. Spoken Ouah, ouah, ouah, ouah! C’est le petit chien marron. Miaou, miaou! C’est le petit chat gris. Coin, coin, coin, coin! C’est le petit canard blanc. Croa, croa, croa, croa! C’est la petite grenouille verte. Cot, cot, codet! C’est la petite poule. Raoh, raoh, raoh, raoh! C’est le petit lion jaune. Other suggestions: cochon / pig groin / oink vache / cow meuh / moo oiseau / bird cui cui / tweet

Knock, knock, knock, knock! Who knocks at my front door? Knock, knock, knock, knock! Hark, who could it be? Open, open, open up your front door, Open, open, open if you please. Woof, woof, woof, woof! It’s the little brown dog. Meow, meow! It’s the little grey cat. Quack, quack, quack, quack! It’s the little white duck. Croak, croak, croak, croak! It’s the little green frog. Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck! It’s the little red hen. Roar, roar, roar, roar! It’s the little yellow lion.

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page