Allons-y!

À Paris

En passant les Pyrénées

En passant par la Lorraine

Le petit train

Les petites locos

Les roues du bus

Pour passer le Rhône

Roulez roulez

 

Last updated: 10/23/2015 2:52 PM

 

The songs below are part ofAllons-y!’ The French collection

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

 

To listen to music from these songs click on O

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

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You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

·       you must give the original author credit

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·       any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

 

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.


 

 

À Paris O

 

Learn the names of colours in French and English.

Where shall we go? Choose a colour then rhyme it with a city, what could be simpler! Use different modes of transport and numbers of vehicles depending on your vocabulary focus.

 

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJK7IcP3YbY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


À Paris, à Paris, sur un petit cheval gris.

To Bombay, to Bombay, on a little horse so grey.

 

À Toulouse, à Toulouse, sur un petit cheval rouge.

To Gateshead, to Gateshead, on a little horse so red.

 

À Verdun, à Verdun, sur un petit cheval brun.

Off to town, off to town, on a little horse so brown.

 

À Never, à Never, sur un petit cheval vert.

To Turin, to Turin, on a little horse so green.

Trot freely around the room alone or side by side with a partner. Change direction for each verse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


En passant les Pyrénées O

 

This tune will be familiar as ‘Savez-vous planter les choux?’

A song suited to winter time, it is also a good excuse for some Geography research – find these mountains in an atlas.

 

Listen at: http://www.musicalecole.edres74.ac-grenoble.fr/spip.php?article43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


En passant les Pyrénées,

Y’a de la neige, Y’a de la neige,

En passant les Pyrénées,

Y’a de la neige, jusqu’au nez.

Passing through the Pyrenees,

Snow is drifting, snow is drifting,

Passing through the Pyrenees,

Snow is drifting, up to my nose.

 

En passant le Canigou,

Y’a de la neige, Y’a de la neige,

En passant les Canigou,

Y’a de la neige, jusqu’au cou.

Passing through the Canigou,

Snow is drifting, snow is drifting,

Passing through the Canigou,

Snow is drifting, up to my neck.

 

En passant les Himalaya,

Y’a de la neige, Y’a de la neige,

En passant les Himalaya,

Y’a de la neige, jusqu’au .

Passing through the Himalayas,

Snow is drifting, snow is drifting,

Passing through the Himalayas,

Snow is drifting, way up here.

Make two rows facing each other. Hold hands high with the child opposite to make mountain peaks.

The first couple, holding inside hands, go through the tunnel followed by the second, then the third couple and so on.

On arrival at the end of the tunnel each pair make a new mountain peak with their hands for the others to enter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

En passant par la Lorraine O

 

A popular French story song especially for children, it is well suited for role playing. Begin each new verse with the third line from the previous one.

 

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CotZfnKGWHM .

 

 

Directions:

Pairs march side by side in a circle facing clockwise. Synchronise movements of high knees and swinging arms. Stop and face inwards to watch a selected group act out the story in the centre. Children both in the centre and those in the circle can make up their own dramatic actions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


En passant par la Lorraine,

Avec mes sabots,

Rencontrais trois capitaines

Avec mes sabots dondaine,

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Avec mes sabots.

 

}x2

 
Rencontrais trois capitaines

Avec mes sabots,

Ils m’on appelée vilaine

Avec mes sabots dondaine,

Oh! Oh! Oh!

Avec mes sabots.

 

Je ne suis pas si vilaine…

 

Puisque le fils du roi m’aime…

 

Il m’a donné pour étrennes…

 

Un bouquet de marjolaine…

 

S’il fleurit, je serai reine…

I was passing Lorraine lightly,

In my wooden clogs,

I met captains three who saw me

Wearing those clogs oh so boldly,

Oh! Oh! Oh!

In my wooden clogs,

 

}x2

 
I met captains three who saw me

In my wooden clogs,

They called me a country bumpkin

Wearing those clogs oh so boldly,

Oh! Oh! Oh!

In my wooden clogs,

 

I am not a country bumpkin….

 

For in my clogs the king likes me …

 

A New Year’s present he gave me …

 

A bouquet of marjoram to me…

 

If  it flowers I will be queen

 

 

 


 

 

Le petit train O

 

Little children set off on a journey, on the way they pick up passengers waiting at the station.

 

Watch at:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xezuos_dans-le-pre-s-en-va-le-train_people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Dans le pré s’en va le train,

Tout chargé de petits bambins.

Accroche-toi, derrière-toi,

Et marche à petits pas.

Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou!

Through the meadow goes the train,

Full of children on holiday.

Hold on tight, keep in line,

Edging forward, doing fine.

Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!

 

Sous le tunnel s’en va le train,

Tout chargé de petits bambins.

Baisse-toi, derrière-toi,

Et marche à petits pas.

Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou!

Through the tunnel goes the train,

Full of children on holiday.

Duck down please, bend your knees,

Edging forward, feel the breeze.

Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!

 

Sur le pont s’en va le train,

Tout chargé de petits bambins.

Relève-toi, derrière-toi,

Et marche à petits pas.

Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! Tchou! 

Over the bridge there goes the train,

Full of children on holiday.

Hold on tight, keep in line,

Edging forward, doing fine.

Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!

 

In line two or three groups of children hold onto the shoulders of the one in front. Others in groups of two or three wait at one of the stations.

The trains zigzag around the room eventually heading for a station where they pick up their passengers.

Make loud ‘Tchou! Tchou!’ sounds.

 

 

 

Two children in front of each line peel off to make a tunnel. The trains aim to go under each tunnel bending down low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children stand up tall and walk along an imaginary straight line with feet moving  heel to toe.

 


 

 

Les petites locos O

 

A familiar nursery favourite that older children would appreciate revisiting in a second language.

 

Add more verses as children suggest different vehicles and where they belong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tous les matins devant la gare,

Les petites locos se mettent en rang.

Le mécanicien tire sur la barre,

Tchou! Tchou! Tchou!

Attention! En avant!

Early at dawn down at the station,

All the little trains are lined up so.

See the driver now pull the little lever,

Choo! Choo! Chuff! Chuff!

Then it’s off we go!

 

Tous les matins devant la cour de ferme,

Les petits tracteurs se mettent en rang.

Le fermier tire sur la barre,

Pôt pôt! Teuf!

Attention! En avant!

Early at dawn down at the station,

All the little tractors are lined up so.

See the farmer now pull the little lever,

Putt! Putt! Chug! Chug!

Then it’s off we go!

Children stand one behind the other in lines of five or six. Each file weaves in and out of the others, moving arms back and forth. The leader ensures no touching as groups pass each other.

Mime actions.

 

 

 

For subsequent verses mime the action suggested by each vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


Les roues du bus O

 

Singing such a familiar tune will make this a popular choice.

Mime the actions suggested by the words. Encourage children to create other situations or different modes of transport.

 

Ensure there is plenty of space to make big arm movements while walking round the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Les roues du bus tourne et roule,

Tourne et roule, tourne et roule,

Les roues du bus tourne et roule,

Toute les journée.

The bus wheels they go round and round,

Round and round, round and round

The bus wheels they go round and round,

All the day long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Les essuie-glaces du bus fait chui, chui, chui

The bus wipers go swish, swish, swish

 

Les porte du bus font ouvre et ferme…

The bus doors they go open and shut

 

Le chauffeur du bus dit ‘Allez au fond!’….

The bus driver says ‘Move on back!’…

 

Les klaxons du bus fait tut, tut, tut  

The bus horns they go beep, beep, beep

 

Les bébés dans le bus font ‘Ouain, ouain, ouain!’

The babies they go ‘Wah, wah, wah!...

 

Les mamans dans le bus font ‘Chut, chut, shut!’…

The mothers they go ‘Hush, hush, hush!...

 

Les papas dans le bus font ‘Non, non, non!’…

The dads there they go ‘Oh dear, no!...

Roll forearms around each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


With arms raised move them smoothly back and forth.

 

Bring arms out to the side at shoulder level and close them in time to the music.

 

Move thumbs back and forth over shoulders.

 

Squeeze horn.

 

Move fists up and down in front of eyes.

 

Hold finger in front of lips.

 

 

Wag finger from side to side.

 

 


 

 

Pour passer le Rhône O

 

When you want to cross the dangerous Rhone river it’s best to do it in twos, so says this traditional song from Provence.

A rollicking dance that can get faster each time it is sung once the children are familiar with its movements.

 

Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MS_IBlVFm4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Pour passer le Rhône, il faut être deux,

Pour le bien passer, il faut savoir danser.

Allons passe, passe, passe,

Allons passe donc.

 

If you cross the river, you must go in twos,

And to do it well, you need to dance across.

Come on over, over, over,

Come on over now.

Stand in line side by side holding hands. The two leaders take the line off on a wavy pathway.

At ‘Allons passe’ the two in front form a bridge and the line goes under. As each couple pass through they also form a bridge. The bridge makers then move to rejoin the back of the line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Roulez, roulez O

 

Off on another journey. Where is this train going?

A second more traditional version includes the phrase ‘chemin d’fer’ instead of ‘petit train’ which is easier to sing.

A good opportunity to develop the vocabulary for places. va-tu?’ ‘Je vais à Londres’ ‘Je vais au bord de la mer’.

 

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC1dMwg15Tw

 

Children stand still, facing the centre, in two or three separate circles. The engine driver chosen for each circle stands outside.

Roulez, roulez, petit train roulez!

Comme çà marche, comme çà marche,

Roulez, roulez petit roulez!

Comme çà marche, regardez.

TCHOU! TCHOU!

Roll, little train roll along the track!

Watch it rolling, watch it rolling,

Roll, little train roll along the track!

Watch it rolling, off it goes!

CHOO! CHOO!

Children move round in the circle. The engine driver walks round the outside with arms moving like a train.

On ‘regardez’, the driver lightly touches the back of the nearest child inviting them to join the train while continuing to move arms back and forth.

Those in the circle make a loud ‘TCHOU! TCHOU! as they pull the piston.

 

Each time the song is sung a new child joins the train until everyone is moving round in a circle behind the engine driver.

 

 

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