Un éléphant, ça trompe, ça trompe
Un éléphant, ça trompe, ça trompe
One Elephant Deceives, Deceives
Chanson enfantine
Children's Song
(French)
(English)
Un éléphant, ça trompe, ça trompe
Un éléphant, ça trompe énormément.
Deux éléphants, ça trompe, ça trompe
Deux éléphants, ça trompe, ça trompe énormément… etc
One elephant deceives, deceives,
One elephant deceives enormously.
Two elephants deceive, deceive,
Two elephants deceive enormously… etc
Notes
This song is based on a play on words: in French "ça trompe" (it deceives) is pronounced the same way as "sa trompe" (its trunk).
*****
Manuel wrote, "My mom who was Belgian would sing to us when we were small (1980) while traveling by sailing from Belgium to Colombia. I don't know the origin of this song, but I'm sure you, or a visitor of yours, knows more. Thanks for your web site."
We don't know its origin but all the French-speaking children know this song. It's generally used as a march-song.
There's a second part to this song that goes:
La peinture à l'huile
C'est bien difficile
Mais c'est bien plus beau
Que la peinture à l'eau.
English Translation
Oil painting
Is very difficult
But much more beautiful
Than water painting.
-Monique
*****
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Manuel Dávila Christiaens for contributing this song, and to Monique Palomares for translating it and for creating the midi music.
Merci beaucoup!
