Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère
"Fais dodo" is baby talk for "go to sleep" and "Colas" is short for "Nicolas" in French.
Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère
Go to Sleep, Colas My Little Brother
Berceuse
Lullaby
(French)
(English)
Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo
Maman est en haut
Qui fait des gâteaux
Papa est en bas
Qui fait du chocolat
Fait dodo Colas mon p'tit frère
Fait dodo, t'auras du lolo.
Go to sleep, Colas my little brother
Go to sleep, you will have your milk
Mommy is upstairs
Making some cakes
Daddy is downstairs
Making hot cocoa
Go to sleep, Colas my little brother
Go to sleep, you will have your milk.
Notes
Regarding the line about chocolate in the song, "Qui fait du chocolat" - I asked Monique in France if it was referring to actual chocolate or hot chocolate. She wrote, "I never thought about it before, but unless the dad is a pastry/chocolate maker, yes, he's making hot chocolate."
Below is an instrumental version of "Fais dodo"...
Many thanks to Pascal from Frenchy Bunny for sharing the instrumental verison of "Fais dodo".
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Frédérique Gearing for contributing this rhyme.
Illustration by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel (1851-1913) from Vieilles Chansons pour les Petits Enfants: Avec Accompagnements / de Ch. M. Widor (1844 - 1937); Illustrations Par M.B. de Monvel. Paris: E. Plon, Nourrit et Cie, [1883]. The 2nd illustration is from Chansons et rondes enfantines (1871). The images were graphically edited by Lisa Yannucci.
More info about this song:
1. "Les plus belles chansons", Hachette 1995: "...the tune probably goes back to the 18th century, the lyrics are traditional."
2. "Diapason turquoise", vol.1, Les presses de l'Ile de France, 2001, "Traditional lyrics on a 18th century tune."
Appears in Chansons et rondes enfantines: avec notices et accompagnement de piano (1870); Weckerlin, J.-B (Jean-Baptiste), 1821-1910; Garnier frères, publisher.
Merci beaucoup!
