While walking home from Carl's house one evening this week, pushing Griffin in his stroller, singing to him, and watching daytime turn to nighttime, I started improvising. Taking the tune from the song "Goodnight, Ladies," I sang "bonne nuit" to the things we passed. Then I decided to try to make the verses rhyme, and by the time we arrived home, I had a berceuse (lullaby--from the verb bercer, to rock). I'm so pleased with it--especially since I haven't found one in French that I like enough to want to make it part of Griffin's bedtime routine--that I'd like to share it with you all here! (Click on "comments" for an English translation.)
Au revoir, soleil
Au revoir, soleil
Au revoir, soleil
Soleil très chaud.
Bonsoir la lune
Bonsoir la lune
Bonsoir la lune
La lune là-haut.
Bonsoir voitures
Bonsoir voitures
Bonsoir voitures
Voitures qui passent.
Bonsoir le chat
Bonsoir le chat
Bonsoir le chat
Le chat qui chasse.
Bonsoir les chiens
Bonsoir les chiens
Bonsoir les chiens
Chiens qui aboient.
Bonsoir bébé
Bonsoir bébé
Bonsoir bébé
Mon bébé, toi.
Bonne nuit, bébé
Bonne nuit, bébé
Bonne nuit, bébé
Je t'aime très fort.
Fais de beaux rêves
Fais de beaux rêves
Fais de beaux rêves
Bébé qui dort.
What do you sing to your children at bedtime? Can anyone recommend French lullabies (other than "Fais do-do, 'Colas mon petit frère," which is pleasant but doesn't "work" for us since Griffin's name is, well, Griffin, not Nicolas, and he doesn't have any siblings)?
Au revoir, soleil
Au revoir, soleil
Au revoir, soleil
Soleil très chaud.
Bonsoir la lune
Bonsoir la lune
Bonsoir la lune
La lune là-haut.
Bonsoir voitures
Bonsoir voitures
Bonsoir voitures
Voitures qui passent.
Bonsoir le chat
Bonsoir le chat
Bonsoir le chat
Le chat qui chasse.
Bonsoir les chiens
Bonsoir les chiens
Bonsoir les chiens
Chiens qui aboient.
Bonsoir bébé
Bonsoir bébé
Bonsoir bébé
Mon bébé, toi.
Bonne nuit, bébé
Bonne nuit, bébé
Bonne nuit, bébé
Je t'aime très fort.
Fais de beaux rêves
Fais de beaux rêves
Fais de beaux rêves
Bébé qui dort.
What do you sing to your children at bedtime? Can anyone recommend French lullabies (other than "Fais do-do, 'Colas mon petit frère," which is pleasant but doesn't "work" for us since Griffin's name is, well, Griffin, not Nicolas, and he doesn't have any siblings)?
English translation:
ReplyDeleteGood-bye, sun (x3)
Very hot sun.
Good evening, moon (x3)
The moon way up high.
Good evening, cars (x3)
Cars driving by.
Good evening, cat (x3)
Cat who's hunting.
Good evening, dogs (x3)
Dogs who are barking.
Good evening, baby (x3)
You, my baby.
Good night, baby (x3)
I love you very much.
Sweet dreams (x3)
Sleeping baby.
(I think it sounds better in French!)
I love it!! We'll try it out and see how it sticks, too!
ReplyDeleteSongs always sound better in the original language!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm French and planning on raising my children bilingual when the time comes for me to become a "mommy" (actually they'll be trilingual since my partner is from Guadeloupe and speaks Creole and French).
Here's my favorite french lullaby for you :
"Dou, dou, doucement,
doucement s'en va le jour
Dou, dou, doucement
À pas de velours
La rainette dit
Sa chanson de nuit
Et le lièvre fuit
Sans un bruit
Dou, dou, doucement,
doucement s'en va le jour
Dou, dou, doucement
À pas de velours
Dans le creux des nids
Les oiseaux blottis
Se sont endormis
Bonne nuit"
I can record it for you if you don't know the tune.
Bonne continuation avec ton petit ange bilingue :o)
Elise
I just now saw your comment, Elise! I have heard this song before, but just the first verse. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely lullaby.
ReplyDeleteElise, Do you or your husband know the complete cajun version of Fais Do Do I only remember the first to lines and my grandmother used to sing it to me and i wanna pass it down to my baby. if you can please help. thank you
ReplyDelete"Fais dodo mon bebe petit fais dodo mon cheru petit"