Au Clair De La Lune (French Lyrics English Translation)

“Au Clair De La Lune” (Meaning: by the moon light; pronunciation: o klɛʀ də la lyn) is a famous French song for children. The song recounts the search for a pen in the absence of light. The song’s lyrics make use of the passé simple, a literary past tense.

Au Clair De La Lune French Lyrics & English Translation

Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot
Prête-moi ta plume: Pour écrire un mot
Ma chandelle est morte, Je n’ai plus de feu
Ouvre-moi ta porte, Pour l’amour de dieu

By the light of the moon, my friend Pierrot
Lend me your pen, to write a word
My candle is out (dead), I have no more light (fire)
Open your door for me, for the love of God

Au clair de la lune, Pierrot répondit
Je n’ai pas de plume, je suis dans mon lit
Va chez la voisine, je crois qu’elle y est
Car dans sa cuisine, on bat le briquet

By the light of the moon, Pierrot replied
I don’t have any pen, I’m in my bed
Go to the neighbor’s house, I think she’s there
Because in her kitchen, someone is using the lighter

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Au claire de la lune, l’aimable Lubin
Frappe chez la brune, elle répond soudain
Qui frappe de la sorte? Il dit à son tour
Ouvrez votre porte, pour le dieu d’amour

By the light of the moon, likable Lubin
Knocks on the brunette’s door, she soon responds
Who’s knocking like that? He then replies
Open your door, for the God of Love!

Au clair de la lune, on n’y voit qu’un peu
On chercha la plume, on chercha le feu
En cherchant de la sorte, je n’sais c’qu’on trouva
Mais je sais que la porte, sur eux se ferma

By the light of the moon, one could barely see
The pen was looked for, the light was looked for
With all that looking, I don’t know what was found
But I do know that the door, was shut behind them.

Listen to Au Clair De La Lune

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.

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