Alphabet des Scouts
In French, each line of this song ends with a letter of the alphabet, going in ABC order. The last syllable of the word right before the letter, rhymes with that line's letter.
The song is literally translated into English. Since it would be very difficult to follow the song's pattern in a translation, the English lyrics aren't following the alphabetical pattern. Therefore, we didn't write the letters at the end of each line.
Furthermore, in French, "w" is called "double v" ("double u") and "y" is called "i grec" ("Greek i") - in French and there are no words ending in the sounds "double v" or "i grec" - so they skipped these letters in the song. This reduced the alphabet to 24 letters. Therefore, each verse has exactly 4 lines and we have a perfect pattern for the song!
Alphabet des Scouts
The Scouts' Alphabet
Chanson enfantine
Children's Song
(French)
(English)
Un jour la troupe campa A A A
La pluie se mit à tomber B B B
L'orage à tout casser CCC
Faillit nous inonder A B C D
Le chef s' mit à crier É É É
À son adjoint Joseph F F F
Fais-nous vite à manger G G G
Les scouts sont sous la bâche E F G H
Les pinsons dans leur nid I I I
Les loups dans leur logis J J J
Chahutaient quel fracas K K K
Avec les hirondelles I J K L
Joseph fit de la crème M M M
Et du lapin de garenne N N N
Et même du cacao O O O
Mes amis quel souper M N O P
Soyez bien convaincus Q Q Q
Que la vie au grand air R R R
Fortifie la jeunesse S S S
Renforce la santé Q R S T
Maintenant qu'il ne pleut plus U U U
Les scouts vont se sauver V V V
Le temps est au beau fixe X X X
Plus besoin qu'on les aide U V X Z.
One day the troop camped out
The rain began to fall
The terrible rainstorm
Nearly drowned us.
The leader started to shout
To his assistant Joseph
Hurry make a meal
The scouts are under the tent.
The finches in their nests
And the wolves in their dens
Were making an uproar
With the chirping swallows.
Joseph cooked us a cream
And wild rabbit stew,
And even hot cocoa
My dear friends, what a supper!
Be sure and be convinced
That the outdoor way of life
Fortifies young ones and
Strengthens their health.
Now since it no longer rains
The scouts will go away,
The weather's very fine
They no longer need anyone's help.
Notes
This song is well-known throughout the French-speaking world.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Lucie Lasseel for contributing this song. Translated by Monique Palomares and Lisa Yannucci.
Image from "Darton's Alphabet of Animals", edited by Mama Lisa.
Merci beaucoup
