Frère Jacques - French Children's Songs - France - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World  - Intro Image

Notes

The English "translation" above is actually the English version, not the literal translation. Here's the literal English translation of Frère Jacques:

Brother James,
Brother James,
Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Ring the morning bells,
Ring the morning bells,
Ding ding dong,
Ding ding dong.

Comments

Here's a recording of Frère Jacques sung in both French and English (by Ezwa).

The CLasse d'INitiation de Mons-en-Baroeul/Lille Fives in France has a Frère Jacques page that contains videos of students and teachers singing Frère Jacques in different languages. Click here to visit the page.

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First recording of Frère Jacques is by Ezwa for Librivox (edited down by Mama Lisa).

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Many thanks to Monique Palomares for singing Frère Jacques for us in the 2nd recording!

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Many thanks to Susan Pomerantz for playing this tune on piano in the 3rd recording.

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Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Frère Jacques

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Illustration by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1851-1913) from Vieilles Chansons pour les Petits Enfants: Avec Accompagnements / de Ch. M. Widor (1844 - 1937); Illustrations Par M.B. de Monvel. Paris: E. Plon, Nourrit et Cie, [1883]. The image was graphically edited by Lisa Yannucci.

Thanks so much!