In this song, the elephants are swinging on a spider web as if they're on a swing.
You can sing the English translation to the tune if you sing the word "swinging" using 3 beats like "swin-nnnng-ing".
Un éléphant se balançait
Sur une toile, toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Qu'il appela... un deuxième éléphant
Deux éléphants se balançaient
Sur une toile, toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Qu'ils appelèrent... un troisième éléphant
Trois éléphants se balançaient
Sur une toile, toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Qu'ils appelèrent... un quatrième éléphant
Quatre éléphants se balançaient
Sur une toile, toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Qu'ils appelèrent... un cinquième éléphant
Cinq éléphants se balançaient
Sur une toile, toile, toile, toile d'araignée,
C'était un jeu tellement amusant
Que tout d'un coup… BaDaBouM !
One elephant was swinging
On a web, web, web, a spider's web,
It was such a fun game, so much fun
That he called.... a second elephant.
Two elephants were swinging
On a web, web, web, a spider's web,
It was such a fun game, so much fun
That they called... a third elephant.
Three elephants were swinging
On a web, web, web, a spider's web,
It was such a fun game, so much fun
That they called... a fourth elephant.
Four elephants were swinging
On a web, web, web, a spider's web,
It was such a fun game, so much fun
That they called... a fifth elephant.
Five elephants were swinging
On a web, web, web, a spider's web,
It was such a fun game, so much fun
That suddenly... Badaboum!
Notes
The line "C'était un jeu tellement amusant" translates more literally to "It was a game that was so much fun." I changed it to fit the tune in the mp3.
The standard lyrics to this song are slightly different:
Un éléphant se balançait
sur une toile d'araignée,
il trouva ça si amusant,
qu'il appela un autre éléphant.
Deux éléphants se balançaient etc. etc.
English Translation:
An elephant was swinging
On a spider's web,
He found it so fun
He called another elephant.
Two elephants were swinging etc. etc.
Comments
The midi is the more standard tune.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Marie and Séverine for contributing this song. Translated by Monique and Lisa.
Many thanks to CM2 (5th grade) students, St-Ambreuil (71), France, school year 2008-2009, for contributing this song, for singing it for us and for the wonderful illustrations!
Merci beaucoup!
