Frère Jacques (pronounced fʀɛʀ ʒɑk or frer jak) is a French nursery rhyme and song. The English name for the song is Brother John. The song is about a French monk who has overslept and is called to wake up for the morning prayers. This is a song for kids and is often sung in rounds.
Listen to Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques lyrics and translation
Frère Jacques, frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don.
Brother John, Brother John,
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
Lyrics explanation
Frère Jacques, frère Jacques
The first line and title of the song translates to “Brother Jacques” or “Brother Jack”. The song is commonly known in English as “Brother John”. The French word for brother, frère, is related to the English word “friar”. Thus, the translation of the song title could also be “Friar Jacques”.
Dormez vous? Dormez vous?
The question, “Dormez-vous?” means “Are you sleeping”? This is the verb dormir (to sleep) conjugated in the vous (you formal and plural) form in the inversion form for asking questions.
This line could have also been written with est-ce que (is and are for yes-no questions) – Est-ce que vous dormez? (Are you sleeping?).
Sonnez les matines
This line translates to “morning bells are ringing”. The verb sonner means “to ring” or “to sound”. Historically, les matines or “matins” in English referred to Christian prayers that were sung in the hours of the morning before sunrise.
French songs | Lessons by David Issokson
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