Au baguette du roi

À la ronde des muets

En roulant ma boule

La reine à dit

Melchior et Balthazar

En train de travailler

Au feu les pompiers

La belette

La fille du coupeur de blé

Le facteur n’est pas passé

Scions du bois

Sur le pont d’Avignon

Voulez-vous le ramoneur?

Last updated: 3/15/2016 4:12 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Allons-y!’ 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:

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page

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.

À la ronde des muets O

A traditional dance that originates from the Languedoc region of France.

In this game initially only the leader or ‘king’ sings. The king holds a stick or mace. As the ‘guilty ones’ turn round they also join in with the singing and give orders.

}x2 À la ronde des muets, Sans rire et sans parler, La première qui rira Au piquet y restera. Un! Deux! Trois! Croisez les bras! Au baguette du roi! Silence, silence in the ring, No-one laugh or say a thing, And the first who laughs or smiles Must turn around and stay awhile. One! Two! Three! Fold your arms! Order of the king!

Join hands and walk silently in a circle around the singing leader. Skip in the opposite direction. The children drop hands and stand upright and still. The king taps the floor three times and tells the children to fold their arms. The king points to any laughing child who must turn their back towards the centre. All including the ‘guilty one’ hold hands and resume walking round. The child left facing the centre at the end of the game is declared the winner and may join the king for a dance. The rest turn round and clap the rhythm.

En roulant ma boule O

This French Canadian canoe paddling song dates back to the 15^th century. Popular among French fur traders, this and similar songs such as ‘Allouette’ encouraged regular paddling in unison, passed the time and made the work seem lighter. The full version of thirteen and sometimes more verses, expresses anti royalist sentiments of the time; the son of the king depicted as a figure of fun who shoots a young lady’s pet duck.

For the long version listen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf9puOwdaYg&feature=related

Refrain (sing after each verse) En roulant ma boule roulant, En roulant ma boule. En roulant ma boule roulant, En roulant ma boule. Roll, roll on, my ball roll along, Roll along, my ball roll on. Roll, roll on, my ball roll along, Roll along, my ball roll on. Derrière chez nous, y’a un étang, En roulant ma boule. Derrière chez nous, y’a un étang, En roulant ma boule. Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant, Rouli roulant, ma boule roulant. Behind our house there is a pond, Roll my ball a-rolling. Behind our house there is a pond, Roll my ball a-rolling. Where three fine ducks swim round and round, Roll-i roll-a, my ball roll along. Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant, En roulant ma boule. Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant, En roulant ma boule. Le fils de roi s’en va chassant, Rouli roulant, ma boule roulant. Where three fine ducks swim round and round, Roll my ball a-rolling. Where three fine ducks swim round and round, Roll my ball a-rolling. A-hunting goes the king’s young son, Roll-i roll-a, my ball roll along.

In a circle stand side by side, the inner partner slightly behind, with hands held just above shoulders. Walk clockwise. Stand facing the centre of the circle. Indicate over shoulder with the thumbs. Shape pond. Roll forearms round each other. Flap arms. Roll forearms round each other. Flap arms. Roll forearms round each other. Gallop on the spot. Roll forearms round each other.

La reine à dit O

Form a line led by ‘la reine’ or’le roi’. Each time a verse and its music is finished the leader retires to the back so a new monarch is heading the line.

In the translated version add the new leader’s name to each verse.

La reine a dit, “Tape!” x2 “Tape, tape, tape, tape!” a dit la reine. “Tape, tape!” a dit la reine. Spoken: Arrêt! Tape les mains! Replay music Good queen Bess says, “Clap! Clap!” x2 “Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!” says the queen. “Clap, clap, clap, clap!” so says the queen. Spoken: Stop! Clap, clap your hands! Le roi a dit, “Tourne!” “Turn!” La reine a dit, “Saute!” “Jump!” Le roi a dit, “Saute à cloche-pied!” “Hop!” La reine a dit, “Danse!” “Dance!”

In line march in step one behind the other, swinging arms with high knees. The queen holds up her hand and halts the line commanding the line to clap their hands. Clap hands to the music. Turn Jump Hop Leave line to dance individually, in a small group or form a large circle.

Melchior et Balthazar O

Sung as a round in the Languedoc but here adapted as a clapping and circle game. A song for ‘Noel’. Choose three kings to mime actions in the centre of the circle.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8gAO56kRw0

Encourage children to develop their own clapping patterns.

Melchior et Balthazar, Sont partis d’Afrique, x2 Melchior et Balthazar, Sont partis d’Afrique, Avec le roi Gaspar. Melchior and Balthazar, Came from Africa, Came from Africa, Melchior and Balthazar, Came from Africa, With King Caspar! Arrivés à Bethléem, Ils défir’nt leurs mannes, x2 Arrivés à Bethléem, Ils défir’nt leurs mannes, Et leurs mannequins. When they came to Bethlehem, They unpacked their baskets, They unpacked their baskets, When they came to Bethlehem, They unpacked their baskets, And provisions too. Affamés comme les loups, Il manger’nt la soupe, x2 Affamés comme les loups, Il manger’nt la soupe, La bonne soupe aux choux. Like three starved and hungry wolves, They ate all their soup up, They ate all their soup up, Like three starved and hungry wolves, They ate all their soup, And it was cabbage soup!

Kings mime riding camels. The others hold hands in a circle. In sequence they step to the left and then bend knees as they move round. On the third line they then step and bend knees to the right in sequence. Three kings mime unpacking. Those in the circle turn to face their partner, clap own hands, their partner’s right then partner’s left. Continue this sequence. Less confident children can hold up hands for partner to tap. Kings mime rubbing tummy and eating soup. The others step and bend knees as before, first to the left then to the right. Pairs face each other holding hands high and duck under in a full circle.

Au feu les pompiers O

Include this song with a topic on ‘People who help us’ or ‘Safety in the home’. Invite the fire service in with a fire engine if possible. Dress up in a firefighter’s costumes and set aside a role play area outside for fire fighting.

Have different buildings burning: l’école, l’eglise etc. Vary the miscreant: C’est mon petit frère, C’est mon souer ainé, C’est mon oncle Jules, whoever you wish to blame!

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWyo5kcgIg0&feature=related

Au feu les pompiers, V’la la maison qui brûle! Au feu les pompiers, V’la la maison qui brûlée! Fire! Fire! Firefighters, Off to the house that’s burning! Fire! Fire! Firefighters, Off to the house on fire! C’est pas moi qui l’ai brûlée, C’est la cantinière, C’est pas moi qui l’ai brûlée, C’est la cantinier! Pin pon! Pin pon! Pin pon! It wasn’t me who lit the fire, The camp cook was the culprit, It wasn’t me who lit the fire, Camp cook lit the fire! Nee naw! Nee naw! Nee naw!

Stand in a circle. Cup hands round mouth. With hands make roof shape above head and then flickering flames. Repeat actions. Point to self and wag finger from side to side. Point to neighbour on the left. Repeat actions pointing to neighbour on the right. Hold hands and run round circle making fire engine noises.

La belette O

Here is a French version of ‘Pop goes the weasel’.

Play this game in two, three or four sets of three. Two in each set make a circle, the third, the weasel, stands in the middle. The little circles form a larger one.

Autour du banc du cordonnier, Le singe poursuivait la belette, Le singe pensait que c’était pour rire, Hop! Fait la belette. All around the cobbler’s bench, The monkey’s chasing the weasel, Monkey thought it such a laugh, Pop! goes the weasel. Un sou pour une bobine de fil, Un sou pour une aiguille, C’est ainsi que l’argent file, Hop! Fait la belette. A penny for a spool of thread, Penny for a needle, That’s the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel.

Pairs side skip to the left round the ‘weasel’ On the word ‘Hop!’ pairs raise their arms to release the ‘weasels’ to the centre of the large circle where they form a new mini circle. The ‘weasels’ skip to the left as the pairs on the outside clap. On the word ‘Hop!’ the ‘weasels’ return to the pair to the left of the original group. After four refrains each child becomes a new weasel in turn.

La fille du coupeur de blé O

There are several variations of this song and dance from Brittany.

In groups of eight make two lines of four facing each other. Hold hands with partner opposite.

Sur le chemin, j’ai rencontré, La fille du coupeur de paille, Sur le chemin, j’ai rencontré, La fille du coupeur de blé! Oui! Oui! j’ai rencontré, La fille du coupeur de paille, Oui! Oui! j’ai rencontré, La fille du coupeur de blé! Out on the road, that’s where I met, The straw cutter’s lovely daughter, Out on the road, that’s where I met, The straw cutter’s daughter fair, Yes! Yes! that’s where I met, The straw cutter’s lovely daughter, Yes! Yes! that’s where I met, The straw cutter’s daughter fair!

1. Pairs swing round clockwise. Swing in the opposite direction. 2. Return to original places in line. The couple at one end chassé, a sideways gallop, up and down the row as the others clap. Finish at the opposite end.

Chassé

c

Le facteur n’est pas passé O

Has the postman got a letter for you? Play this game in a similar way to Lucy Locket.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0eaD_d4_o

Directions:

Children sit in a circle and as they sing the postman walks round the outside holding a beanbag or something similar. As the song finishes the postman says ‘Fermez les petit pois’. When all eyes are closed the postman drops the beanbag behind a child’s back saying ‘Ah! Oui, il et là!’ The child picks it up and runs after the postman who runs round the circle aiming to sit in the now vacant spot. If the postman succeeds they switch places and the game resumes with a new postman. Otherwise the game continues with the same one.

Le facteur n’est pas passé, À la boîte aux lettres. Il ne passera jamais, Parce qu’il est trop bête. Lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, Vendredi, samedi, dimanche! Fermez les petit pois! Ah! Oui, il est là!

Today the postman has not come, With his bag of letters. He will never call again, For he’s a crazy fellah. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday! Close your little eyes! Ah! There s/he is!

Scions du bois O

A game for strong vigorous sawing action. Find the same refrain in the needle threading song ‘Enfilons aiguilles de bois’.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIljwsMIb3o

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFeqzB5U_3E

Scion, scions, scions du bois, Pour la mère, pour la mère, Scion, scions, scions du bois, Pour la mère à Nicolas. Qu’à cassé ses sabots En mille morceaux! Ici les morceaux! Saw, saw, sawing wood, For his mother, for his mother, Saw, saw, sawing wood Nicholas saws wood for her. Then he broke both his clogs! In one thousand bits, And each one is here!

Pairs face each other holding right hands and left hands. Make sawing movements with each arm alternating. Stamp feet in time to the music. Gather up pieces and jump into the air.

Sur le pont d’Avignon O

‘Sur le Pont’ was written by an anonymous composer in 1853. At this time dancing occurred under rather than on the bridge The initial wooden bridge spanned the River Rhone dividing France from the Holy Roman Empire. It dates from the end of the 13^th century. Only four of its original 22 arches have survived.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya8EZ5092RU

Make a circle with boys and girls alternating.

Sur le pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse Sur le pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse, tout en rond. On the bridge of Avignon, all are dancing, all are dancing On the bridge of Avignon, all are dancing in a ring. Holding hands skip first to the left then to the right. Les beaux messieurs font comme ça, Et puis encore comme ça. The gentlemen go this way, And then again go that way. Chorus Boys step into the circle, bow and doff hat. Les belles dames (the ladies) font comme ça,. Chorus Girls take step into the circle and curtsey.

Les cordonniers (The shoemakers) font comme ça, Chorus Shoemakers step forward, mend shoes. Les musiciens (the musicians) font comme ça, Chorus Musicians step into the circle and play an instrument. Les jardiniers (The gardeners) font comme ça, Chorus Gardeners step forward and garden. Les soldats (The soldiers) font comme ça,…… Chorus Soldiers step forward, march on the spot

Voulez-vous le ramoneur O

The children should be very familiar with this tune, ‘Have you seen the muffin man?’, but in this French version it is a chimney sweep that takes centre stage.

It is far more enjoyable and effective for young children to build up a vocabulary of verbs by acting them out rather than by way of rote learning, Provide the sweep with a brush or suitable clothing. Place a chair in the centre. Children make a circle holding hands. The chimney sweep stands outside.

Voulez-vous le ramoneur, le ramoneur, le ramoneur, Voulez-vous le ramoneur, qui marche dans la rue? Do you need the chimney sweep, the chimney sweep, the chimney sweep, Do you need the chimney sweep, who marches down our road? Voulez-vous le ramoneur, le ramoneur, le ramoneur, Voulez-vous le ramoneur, qui saute dans la rue? Do you need the chimney sweep, the chimney sweep, the chimney sweep, Do you need the chimney sweep, who jumps / hops right down our road? …qui frappe à notre porte …who knocks loud on our door …qui monte sur la chaise …who climbs up on the chair …qui assied sur la chaise …who sits down on the chair …qui dit ‘Au revoir!’ …who says ‘Goodbye, goodbye!’

The sweep marches round the turning circle. The circle stops turning, drops hands then marches on the spot. As above but jump on the spot. Continue song using different actions. The sweep knocks then enters the circle. The others knock an imaginary door. The sweep climbs on the chair and pokes his brush up and down the chimney, as do those in the circle. The circle moves and sings slowly as the sweep sleeps on the chair. He jumps up and shakes hands with a child in the circle who becomes the new chimney sweep.

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page