Guillô prends ton tambourin (Patapan)
Patapan or Guillaume prends ton tambourin is a traditional song from the Burgundy region in France. It's also known in English as Willie Take Your Little Drum.
Guillô prends ton tambourin (Patapan)
Patapan
Chanson de Noël
Christmas Carol
(French)
(English)
Guillô prends ton tambourin
Et toi prends ta flûte, Robin.
Au son de ces instruments
Turelure lu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Nous dirons Noël gaiement.
C'était la mode autrefois
De louer le Roi des Rois.
Au son de ces instruments
Turelure lu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Il nous faut en faire autant.
Ce jour le diable est vaincu
Rendons-en grâce à Jésus.
Au son de ces instruments
Turelure lu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Faisons la nique à Satan.
L'homme et Dieu sont plus d'accord
Que la flûte et le tambour.
Au son de ces instruments
Turelure lu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Chantons et dansons gaiement.
Willie take your little drum,
Robin take your flute, come!
To the sound of these instruments
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
To the sound of these instruments
I will joyfully sing Merry Christmas!
It was the way of yonder times
To praise the king of kings
To the sound of these instruments
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
To the sound of these instruments
We must do the same.
Today the devil is vanquished,
Let's thanks Jesus for it,
To the sound of these instruments
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
To the sound of these instruments
Let us mock Satan.
Man and god agree
About the flute and the little drum…
To the sound of these instruments
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,
To the sound of these instruments
Sing! Dance! Jump around!
 - French Children's Songs - France - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World
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Notes
This song was written in 1701. Here is the song in its original Burgundy spelling:
Guillô, pran ton tamborin;
Toi, pran tai fleúte, Rôbin!
Au son de cé instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cé instruman
Je diron Noei gaiman
C'étó lai môde autrefoi
De loüé le Roi dé Roi,
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés instruman,
Ai nos an fau faire autan.
Ce jor le Diale at ai cu
Randons an graice ai Jesu
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés instruman,
Fezon lai nique ai Satan.
L'homme et Dei son pu d'aicor
Que lai fleúte & le tambor.
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés instruman,
Chanton, danson, sautons-an.
Comments
A tambourin is a small cylindrical drum, usually made out of wood and covered with an animal skin. It's hung from the shoulders and played with the hands. 'Turelurelu' is the sound the flute makes and 'patapatapan' is the sound of the drum. This is most likely the inspiration for the English Christmas song, The Little Drummer Boy.
Many thanks to David W. Solomons for sharing his recording of Patapan. Here's a link to more of David Solomons' music.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Monique and Lisa.
Image: The Young Drummer, Thomas Couture, France, 1857.
Merci beaucoup!
