This song is based on a very long poem by Alfred de Musset (1810-1857). You'll find it on the French version of this page. French children usually learn some verses at school.

Ballade à la lune - French Children's Songs - France - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image

Notes

*A "faucheux" is a daddy-long-legs spider.

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This song can be sung to two slightly different tunes and tempos. The midi music plays both tunes separated by a blank. The lyrics can also differ a little as follows (the differing parts are in italics):

C'était dans la nuit brune
Sur le clocher jauni,
La lune, la lune (the moon, the moon)
Comme un point sur un i.

Lune, quel esprit sombre
Promène au bout d'un fil,
Dans l'ombre, dans l'ombre, (in the dark, in the dark)
Ta face et ton profil ?

N'es tu rien qu'une boule ?
Qu'un grand faucheux bien gras ?
Qui roule, qui roule, (that rolls, that rolls)
Sans pattes et sans bras ?

Est-ce un ver qui te ronge,
Quand ton disque noirci
S'allonge, s'allonge, (lengthens, lengthens)
En croissant rétréci ?

Listen

Download

Many thanks to Edit' Dupont for contributing and singing this song for Mama Lisa's World.

Download MIDI Tune

Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Ballade à la lune

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Translation: Monique Palomares – who learned verses 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 25 as a child.

Photo: Monique Palomares

Merci beaucoup!