Il est né le divin enfant  - French Children's Songs - France - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World  - Intro Image

Notes

According to Diapason Turquoise 1, Ed. Les Presses de l'Île de France (2001), this song can be found in a collection of Lorraine Carols by Romain Grosjean (organist of Saint-Dié des Vosges cathedral) from 1874. The lyrics seem to go back to the late 1700's, the music originates in "La tête bizarde", a hunting call of the 1500's.

Comments

Most people sing only the verses above.

Here's the longer version with an English translation:

Il est né le divin enfant

Il est né le divin enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né le divin enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!

Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous le promettaient les prophètes.
Depuis plus de quatre mille ans,
Nous attendions cet heureux temps.
(Refrain)

Ah! qu'll est beau, qu'Il est charmant!
Que ses grâces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu'll est beau, qu'll est charmant!
Qu'il est doux ce divin Enfant!
(Refrain)

Une étable est son logement,
Un peu de paille, sa couchette,
Une étable est son logement,
Pour un Dieu quel abaissement!
(Refrain)

Partez, grands rois de l'Orient!
Venez vous unir à nos fêtes
Partez, grands rois de l'Orient!
Venez adorer cet enfant!
(Refrain)

Il veut nos cœurs, il les attend :
Il est là pour faire leur conquête
Il veut nos cœurs, il les attend :
Donnons-les lui donc promptement!
(Refrain)

O Jésus! O Roi tout puissant!
Tout petit enfant que vous êtes,
O Jésus! O Roi tout puissant!
Régnez sur nous entièrement!
(Refrain)

English Translation:

He is Born, The Divine Child (Long Version)

(Chorus)
He is born, the divine child,
Play, oboes, resound, bagpipes!
He is born, the divine child,
Let us sing of his coming!

For more than four thousand years,
The prophets promised Him to us.
For more than four thousand years,
We've been waiting for this happy time.
(Chorus)

Oh! How he's beautiful, how he's adorable,
How his charms are perfect!
Oh! How he's beautiful, how he's adorable,
How he's the gentle divine child!
(Chorus)

His lodging is a stable,
A little straw, his crib
His lodging is a stable,
How humble for a God!
(Chorus)

Go, great Kings of the Orient,
Come join our celebrations!
Go, great Kings of the Orient,
Come adore our child!
(Chorus)

He yearns for our hearts, he awaits them,
He is here to conquer them.
He yearns for our hearts, he awaits them,
So let us give them to him quickly.
(Chorus)

O Jesus! O Almighty King!
Such a little child that you are,
O Jesus! O Almighty King!
Reign over us completely!
(Chorus)

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Thanks and Acknowledgements

Translation: Lisa Yannucci

Photo: Nativity, Marseille - Taken by Monique Palomares