Dans le jardin

Auprès de ma blonde

Le petit nid de lièvre

Mon petit lapin

Savez-vous planter les choux?

Tournons autour de la bruyère

Une poule sur un mur

Les oiseaux

Alouette

L’alouette sur la branche

La volette

Le loriot

Passe passe passera

Last updated: 6/13/2017 4:24 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 the author sing a song click on the title at:

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Auprès de ma blonde O

‘Auprès de ma blonde’ is a popular song from the 17^th century Franco-Dutch wars when French soldiers and sailors were captured and imprisoned in the Netherlands. Suited to military marches this also became popular as a drinking song and a nursery rhyme.

This happy bouncy tune can be introduced either in English or French. The English version can be found in ‘Away we go!’

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9xCSI26DVc&feature=related

Children take a partner and join hands in a circle to play the game as below. Alternatively the youngest children skip individually and then find a partner to skip round with on the spot. They then join a second pair to skip in a mini circle.

Au jardin de mon père, Les lilas sont fleuris. Au jardin de mon père, Les lilas sont fleuris. Tous les oiseaux du monde, }x2 Viennent y faire leurs nids. All in my father’s garden, The lilacs are in bloom. From all around the wide world, Birds come to build their nests. Auprès de ma blonde, Qu’il fait bon, fait bon, fait bon. Auprès de ma blonde, }x2 Qu’il fait bon dormir. Next to my dear lady, It’s so good, so good, so good, Next to my dear lady, It’s so good to sleep.

Join hands and skip in a circle to the left. Skip to the right With partner hold hands and skip around in place Skip four into the centre lifting hands high and the four skips back lowering hands. Repeat.

Le petit nid de lièvre O

My little hare has a nest; a song and circle game for Easter.

J’ai un petit nid de lièvre, Mais le lièvre n’y est pas. Hé! roulonla, Mon petit lièvre, mon petit lièvre, Hé! roulonla, Mon petit lièvre n’y est pas. My little hare he has a nest, But my hare he is not there, Hey! roulonla, Little hare, my little hare-oh, Hey! roulonla, Little hare he is not there, Mon petit lièvre entrez en danse, Faites un tour de révérence. Et saluez, Celle, celle, celle, celle, Et saluez, Celle, que vous aimerez. Little hare come join the dance, Round the circle bow and prance, Greet everyone, This one, that one, all the others, Greet everyone, Greet the one that you like best.

A little hare is chosen to wait outside the circle which walks round singing. Hare is invited inside the circle to bow or curtsey to each child in turn. Hare chooses a child from the circle and shakes their hand. This child becomes the new hare.

Mon petit lapin O

‘Mon petit lapin’ is a French endearment like ‘sweetheart and can be used to end a letter to a loved one but his Easter song is about cheering up a sad little rabbit.

A version for home play charmingly ends with ‘Et va vite embrasser quelqu’un’ – ‘And go quickly to kiss someone’ the child who plays the rabbit chooses a brother, sister, friend or parent to kiss.

Sing the first two lines sadly and slowly. Sing the last two cheerfully and briskly.

Begin in a circle with a child, the rabbit, in the middle. Rabbit crouches and looks sad.

Mon petit lapin à bien du chagrin, Il ne saute plus, dans l’petit jardin. Saute, saute, saute mon p’tit lapin! Saute, saute, saute dans l’petit jardin! My dear little rabbit is sad today, In my garden he’ll no longer hop and play. Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, wipe those tears away! Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop, in my garden play!

The circle turns slowly round the rabbit. Stop facing the centre. The children clap their hands and the rabbit hops around the circle. The child in the centre chooses another to be the new rabbit.

Savez-vous planter les choux O

An opportunity to list other parts of the body and also vegetables that can be planted in the ground. Discuss where at home they might be planted and grown – windowsill, vegetable patch in the garden, allotment or farm.

The tune sung in France and on the video recording above differs from the second piece of music in 6/8 time below which is the one I learnt as a child.

Hear it sung by a French speaker at:

http://people.southwestern.edu/~prevots/songs/?p=56

This can be played in pairs or in a circle.

Chorus: Walk round in a circle holding hands.

Verse: Stand still and (1) tap with one foot (2) kneel down (3) tap floor gently with the nose (4) tap floor gently with the head.

Invent more verses.

Refrain Savez-vous planter les choux, À la mode, à la mode, Savez-vous planter les choux, À la mode de chez nous? Do you plant your cabbages, Just as we do, just as we do, Do you plant your cabbages, Just as we do round our way? On les plante avec le pied / le genou / le nez / la tête etc. They are planted with the foot / knee / nose / head etc.

Skip round in pairs with hands crossed. Plant with the part of the body sung.

Tournons autour de la bruyère O

Another well known nursery miming game to sing in French.

Introduce more verbs and nouns to continue this action song.

Refrain Tournons autour de la bruyère, de la bruyère, de la bruyère, Tournons autour de la bruyère, Par les froides matinées d’hiver. Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush Here we go round the mulberry bush, On a cold and frosty morning. Voici comment on frappe nos mains ... This is the way we clap our hands… Voici comment on lave nos visage, ... This is the way we wash our face… Voici comment on se brosse les dents, ... This is the way we clean our teeth… Voici comment on tape du pied, ... This is the way we stamp our feet… Voici comment on se réchauffe nos mains, ... This is the way we warm our hands…

Skip round to the left in a circle. Stop and mime the actions.

Une poule sur un mur O

Animals galore run riot on the garden wall! What part of their body will they raise before scampering off and away? Use this song to dismiss children from class.

Listen at:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb8f8e_la-chanson-du-samedi-une-poule-sur_people

Children walk in small groups of three or four weaving in and out of other groups.

Une poule sur un mur, Qui picore du pain dur. Picoti, picota, Lève la queue et puis s’en va. Chicken Licken on the wall, Pecking at some crust and corn. Peck-a-peek, peek-a-peck, Lifts its tail and off like heck. Un p’tit croco sur un mur, Qui demande de l’eau pure. Crocodi, crocoda, Lève la bouche et puis s’en va. Crocodile is on the wall, Asking for some water cool, Crocodi, crocodoes, Snaps its jaws and off it goes. Un p’tit chat sur un mur, Qui demande du lait entier. Miauli, miaula, Lève la patte et saute en bas! Pussy cat is on the wall, Asking for some milk that’s warm, Miaowli, miaowlow, Lifts its paw and then jumps down!

Place one foot in front of the other, heel to toe to balance on top of an imaginary wall. Imitate pecking left and right with one hand imitating a beak The other hand rests on the bottom, face up fingers spread, and imitates a tail flapping. Jump and move to another place. Walk heel to toe with hands outstretched in front opening and closing. Stand still with hands on hips and stamp foot. Continue walking heel to toe in straight lines. Open arms extra wide, jump and move to another place. Walk heel to toe with hands miming cat’s paws. Stand still with hands on hips and stamp foot. Continue walking heel to toe in straight lines. Raise one paw high, jump then squat down low to finish the game.

Les oiseaux

Alouette O

One of the most popular of French and Canadian folk songs, it is easily identifiable from the first few bars with its lively 2/4 time. In this cumulative song the skylark’s feathers are plucked from various parts of its anatomy in preparation for cooking.

It can be sung as a round. A jolly musical mp3 is available at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/alouette.htm

Alouette, gentille alouette,

Alouette, gentille alouette.

Alouette, gentille alouette,

Alouette, gentille alouette.

Come and dance here, my dear little larkling,

Come and dance here, my dear little lark.…

Come and dance here, my dear little larkling,

Come and dance here, my dear little lark.…

Je te plumerai la tête,

Je te plumerai la tête,

Et la tête, Et la tête,

Alouette, Alouette,

Ah, ah, ah, ah,

I’ll pluck feathers from you head,…

From your head, From your head.

Little lark, Little lark…..

Alouette, gentille alouette,

Alouette, je te plumerai.

Come and dance here, my dear little larkling,

Come and dance here, I will pluck your head.

Je te plumerai le nez,

Je te plumerai le nez,

Et le nez, Et le nez,

Alouette, Alouette,

Ah, ah, ah, ah,

All join hands and skip in a circle around a leader who stands in the middle clapping.

Leader sings first line and touches the head. Circle echoes words and imitates actions.

Walk in three steps with hands held aloft and back three steps (check step count with music)

Skip counter clockwise.

Repeat as above but each time add another body part and action working down the body.

la tête le bec/nez les yeux le cou les ailes le dos les pattes le queue

the head the beak/nose the eyes the neck the wings the back the legs the tail

Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, gentille alouette. Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, gentille alouette. Je te plumerai la tête, (the head) Je te plumerai la tête, Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah, ah, ah, Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai. Je te plumerai le bec, (the beak) Je te plumerai le bec, Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah… Je te plumerai le cou, (the neck) Je te plumerai le cou, Et le cou! Et le cou! Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah… Je te plumerai les ailes, (wings) Je te plumerai les ailes, Et les ailes! Et les ailes! Et les pattes! Et les pattes! Et le cou! Et le cou! Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah…

Je te plumerai le dos, (the back) Je te plumerai le dos, Et le dos! Et le dos! Et les ailes! Et les ailes! Et le cou! Et le cou! Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah… Je te plumerai les pattes, (the legs) Je te plumerai les pattes, Et les pattes! Et les pattes! Et le dos! Et le dos! Et les ailes! Et les ailes! Et le cou! Et le cou! Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah… Je te plumerai la queue, (the tail) Je te plumerai la queue, Et la queue! Et la queue! Et les pattes! Et les pattes! Et le dos! Et le dos! Et les ailes! Et les ailes! Et le cou! Et le cou! Et le bec! Et le bec! Et la tête! Et la tête! Alouette!Alouette! Ah, ah…

L’alouette sur la branche O

This traditional Branle dance originally from Lorraine is about coming together then taking leave of each other.

It is charmingly animated at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzouccary74

Begin in a circle, holding hands, standing next to a partner. Choose a leader.

L’alouette est sur la branche. x2

On a branch sings lark so sweetly. x2

Chorus

Faites un petit saut,

L’alouette, l’alouette,

Faites un petit saut,

L’alouette, comme il faut.

Make a little jump,

Lark most lovely, lark so lovely,

Make a little jump,

Lark most lovely, just like this.

Mettez vos bras en liance, x2

Link your arms like this together, x2

Chorus

Faites nous trios pas de danse, x2

Three steps to the side we’re dancing, x2

Chorus

Faites nous la reverence, x2

Make a bow and leave your partner, x2

Chorus

Faites nous le tour de France, x2

All round France we’ll make a journey, x2

Chorus

Walk six steps clockwise and then six steps in the other direction.

Make a little jump each time ‘saut’ is sung. Pull gently to the left.

As above and then pull to the right.

Either link elbows with hands on hips or place arms on each other’s shoulders. Move first to the left and then the right.

As above walk three steps sideways to the right then three steps to the left.

Turn to partner and bow or curtsey to take leave of them.

Leader takes the line off giving a little jump each time ‘saut’ is sung. Wave as the line weaves round the class.

La volette O

This sedate, very old song, literally titled ‘with flutters,’ might be translated ‘with a fluttering heart’ as it is the story of a little bird that falls out of an orange tree. It sits on a dry branch, the branch breaks and its wing and foot are injured in the fall. The bird dies as a child tries desperately to save it.

Despite the sad ending the rhythm is a merry one and lends itself to a circle game with children dancing round a tree. In the centre of the circle a bird, child and parent act out the story.

Find music at www.lirecreer.org/biblio/fables/index.html .

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfOuvP5NUDM

Un petit oiseau sur un oranger, Un petit oiseau sur un oranger, Sur un o à la volette Sur un o à la volette Sur un oranger La branche était sèche, la branche a cassé, x2 La branche a cassé à la volette, x2 La branche a cassé. Mon petit oiseau t’es-tu bien blessé? x2 T’es-tu bien à la volette, x2 T’es-tu bien blessé? Je m’suis cassé l‘aile et tordu le pied, x2 Et tordu le pied à la volette, x2 Et tordu le pied. Prés de l’oranger, je t’enterrerai, x2 Prés de l’oranger à la volette, x2 Prés de l’oranger.

Little bird so lovely in an orange tree, Little bird so lovely in an orange tree, With a heart all of a flutter, With a heart all of a flutter, In an orange tree. Now the branch has broken for the branch was dry..... Little bird, tell me, are you badly hurt?... My poor wing is broken and my foot is crushed.... I will bury you next to the orange tree...

Le loriot O

‘Le loriot’ is a golden oriole the size and shape of a blackbird. It is found across Europe but very rarely in the British Isles. The male is a bright golden yellow and has a powerful melodious song.

Listen to its sound at www.salamandre.net/node/518 .

A capo taking this key to Cm would work wonders for this music.

This song from Gascony is a counting song in reverse and can be sung as a finger game folding down one digit each time a feather is removed. For the game below divide the class into circles of eight nine or ten, numbering each child in French.

Le loriot a dix plumettes, x2 Qui vont comme le vent, Les plumettes dorées, Qui vont comme le vent, Les plumettes d’argent. The oriole it has ten little feathers, x2 They fly like the wind, Such pretty golden feathers, They fly like the wind, Those little feathers bright. Le loriot a neuf plumettes, x2 ... The oriole it has nine little feathers, x2 ....

Step sideways round the circle swinging held hands back and forth. On the last line the child labelled ‘dix’ flies into the middle of the circle ready to start the game again. As the outside circle diminishes the circle will need to break but hands are still swung in rhythm back and forth. The inside circle hold hands and move in the opposite direction to that of the outside circle. Repeat as above: ‘neuf’ joins ‘dix’ in the inner circle. Each time a verse is sung the child allocated the named number leaves the outer circle for the inner one.

Passe, passe, passera O

This well known French schoolyard song has its origins in Guyenne.

Watch another game at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSffz21wRc4

Directions:

Two players secretly choose a fruit then make a bridge with hands held high in the air. The other players pass under in time to the rhythm of the song.

On ‘Dimanche’ the bridge drops and imprisons the child inside. The captive chooses one of the fruits and stands behind that part of the bridge.

At the end of the game the two parts of the bridge try to draw the other side into their territory. The line that is the longest invariably wins.

Passe, passe, passera, La dernière, la dernière, Passe, passe, passera, La dernière restera. Qu’est-ce qu’elle a donc fait, La p’tite hirondelle? Elle nous a volé, Trois p’tits grains de blé. Nous l’attraperons, La p’tite hirondelle, Nous lui donnerons, Trois p’tits coup d’bâtons. Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi, DIMANCHE!

Pass, pass, all will pass, But the last one, but the last one, Pass, pass, all will pass, But we’ll catch the one that’s last. Why did you do that, Little swallow why? Yes, you stole at dawn, Three small grains of corn. We will catch you now, Little swallow oh, We will give her quick, Three taps of this stick. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, SUNDAY!

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