Comments on: Sur le pont d’Avignon… about the Bridge of Avignon and its Song

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:25:08 +0000

I learned this song at school.
There was another verse, but I can’t remeber the French words.
Can you help:

The translation is:

Under the bridge at Avignon
The beggars (or Robbers) are waiting
The beggars (or Robbers) are waiting

Under the bridge at Avignon
The beggars (or Robbers) are waiting
For the (pennies) to fall though.

Explaination being that the bridge was made of wooden planks and as people danced the money would fall out of their pockets, and the beggars/ robbers woild wait under the bridge.

By: Pip

Pip — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:28:59 +0000

My parents had a 1950s record called A table in Monmatre which had a night club version of this song – I recently managed to find a copy of it on ebay. the words are the same, but the tune is much jazzier – you can imgine a line of men and women, scantily clad, dancing comme ca.

By: MARIE

MARIE — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:12:35 +0000

A new commercial for some computer-like toy has the girl using the gadget playing this tune. Yet another you can’t get out of your mind! I also recall learning this song in French class and just had to refresh my memory by looking up the words. Many thanks!

By: Dawn Scott

Dawn Scott — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:28:49 +0000

I also remembered this song a few days ago, but couldn’t rember any of the verses only the chorus.

I didn’t expect to get any luck – thanks for this website.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:16:47 +0000

Thanks for teaching us the Norwegian version of Sur le pont d'Avignon! Is the tune the same for it? FYI: We added it to our collection of Norwegian Children Songs. -Mama Lisa

By: Silje

Silje — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:48:20 +0000

I learned this at school in one of my French-class, many years ago.
I remember that we also learned it in Norwegian, and it goes like this:

På broen i Avignon
se de danser, se de danser
på broen i Avignon
se de danser rundt i ring.

De kjekke herremenn danser hit
De kjekke herremenn danser dit

På broen i Avignon
se de danser, se de danser
på broen i Avignon
se de danser rundt i ring.

De vakre piker danser hit.
De vakre piker danser dit.

På broen i Avignon
se de danser, se de danser
På broen i Avignon
se de danser rundt i ring.

—
Translated into English, it would be something like this:

At the bridge in Avignon
look, they’re dancing, look, they’re dancing
At the bridge in Avignon
look, they’re dancing ’round in whirls.

The handsome gentlemen are dancing here
The handsome gentlemen are dancing there

refrain.

The pretty young ladies are dancing here
the pretty young ladies are dancing there

refrain.

By: Monique

Monique — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:22:13 +0000

I’d like to add that Benezet is the Occitan form of Benedict (Benoît in French).