Frate Iacob
Frate Ioane (Brother Ioane) seems to be the best known version of Frère Jacques in Romania. Here are some other, less-known Romanian versions...
Frate Iacob
Brother Jacob
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Romanian)
(English)
Frate Iacob,
Frate Iacob,
Mai dormiți?
Mai dormiți?
Trage clopoțele!
Trage clopoțele!
Bing, bang, bum!
Bing, bang, bum!
Brother Jacob,
Brother Jacob
Are you still sleeping?
Are you still sleeping?
Pull on the bell*!
Pull on the bell!
Bing, bang, boom!
Bing, bang, boom!
Notes
*"Clopoțele" translates literally to "little bell".
*****
Variation
Frate Iacob, (Brother Jacob)
Frate Iacob,
De ce dormi? (Why are you sleeping?)
De ce dormi?
Clopoțele sună! (The little bell is ringing)
Clopoțele sună!
Din, dan, don!
Din, dan, don!
Another Version
Moș Martine, (Old Martin)
Moș Martine,
Nu dormi, (Don't sleep)
Nu dormi.
Clopoțelul sună, (The little bell is ringing)
Clopoțelul sună,
Bim bam bum,
bim bam bum.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translations by Monique.