The song Ainsi font is sung to babies when they begin to imitate adults. They copy turning their wrists clockwise and counterclockwise while an adult sings this song to them.
Ainsi font, font, font
Les petites marionnettes
Ainsi font font font
Trois petits tours
Et puis s'en vont
Elle reviendront
Les petites marionnettes
Elles reviendront
Quand les autres partiront.
They do, do, do this way
The little puppets
They do, do, do this way
Three little turns
And then they go away.
They will come back
The little puppets
They will come back
When the others go away.
Notes
Alternate translation to fit the tune:
They Go This Way
They go this way, way
The little, little puppets,
They go this way, way,
Three little twirls.
Then they go away,
They will come back
The little, little puppets,
They will come back
When the others go away.
Photos & Illustrations
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing and translating this song and for creating the midi music.
The first illustration is from The Tony Sarg Marionette Book (1921) by Frederick John McIsaac, Anne Stoddard and the second image is from Chansons et rondes enfantines (1871) with a little graphical editing of both images by Lisa Yannucci.
Many thanks to Tiphaine Woerth for recording this song for Mama Lisa's World.
Merci beaucoup!
