This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 83.24.47.2 (talk) at 07:16, 28 June 2006 (→Lyrics in Polish). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 07:16, 28 June 2006 by 83.24.47.2 (talk) (→Lyrics in Polish)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Frère Jacques is a well-known children's song in French. There is also an English-language version of the song; the first and second lines are switched in the English version, while the other lines are adapted as Morning Bells are Ringing instead of Ring the Morning Bells (imperative). Translations of the song with the same tune are found in almost every country in Europe.
This song can be sung as a round with up to four parts.
In French (original)
Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines,
Sonnez les matines.
Ding, dang, dong.
Ding, dang, dong.
Lyrics in English
Are you sleeping,
Are you sleeping,
Brother John,
Brother John?
Morning Bells are Ringing,
Morning Bells are Ringing.
Ding, dang, dong!
Ding, dang, dong!
Lyrics in German
Bruder Jakob,
Bruder Jakob,
Schläfst du noch?
Schläfst du noch?
Hörst du nicht die Glocken,
Hörst du nicht die Glocken?
Ding, dang, dong!
Ding, dang, dong!
Lyrics in Dutch
Vader Jakob,
Vader Jakob,
Slaapt gij nog?
Slaapt gij nog?
Alle klokken luiden,
Alle klokken luiden,
Bim bam bom!
Bim bam bom!
Lyrics in Italian
Fra' Martino,
Campanaro,
Dormi tu?
Dormi tu?
Suona le campane,
Suona le campane,
Din, don, dan,
Din, don, dan,
Lyrics in Spanish
¡Fray Felipe!
¡Fray Felipe!
¿Duermes tú?
¿Duermes tú?
Suenan las campanas,
Suenan las campanas.
¡Ding, dang, dong!
¡Ding, dang, dong!
- Some dialects use "Tocan las campanas"
Lyrics in Icelandic
Meistari Jakob,
Meistari Jakob!
Sefur þú,
Sefur þú?
Hvað slær klukkan,
Hvað slær klukkan?
Hún slær þrjú,
Hún slær þrjú.
Lyrics in Danish
Mester Jakob,
Mester Jakob,
Sover du?
Sover du?
Hører du ej klokken?
Hører du ej klokken?
Bim, bam, bum,
Bim, bam, bam.
Lyrics in Afrikaans
Vader Jakob,
Vader Jakob,
Slaap jy nog?
Slaap jy nog?
Hoor hoe lui die kerkklok,
Hoor hoe lui die kerkklok,
Ding dong dell,
Ding dong dell.
Lyrics in Polish
Panie Janie,
Panie Janie
Rano wstań
Rano wstań
Wszystkie dzwony biją
Wszystkie dzwony biją
Bim bam bom
Bim bam bom
Frère Jacques in popular culture
In the Garfield and Friends episode "Peace and Quiet", Binky the Clown sings a Happy Birthday song set to the tune of Frère Jacques:
Happy Birthday,
Happy Birthday,
Whoop-tee-doo,
Whoop-tee-doo,
May your day be pleasant,
Open up your present,
Just for you,
Just for you.
Frère Jacques Alterations
The song, like many other children's songs, has had other lyrics made popular to its melody, such as "Where is Thumbkin?":
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am!
Here I am!
How are you today, Sir?
I'm very well, thank you!
Run and hide!
Run and hide!