Children’s Song, France.
“Frère Jacques” is one of the most famous children’s songs (comptines) and has been established as a sleeping song because of its lyrics.
This French song for kids is about a 17th century monk – an actual person – called Jacques (Jacob – John, in the English translation of the song) who has to wake up and sound the bells for the “matines“ (monastic services), but, obviously, oversleeps, so the song calls him to wake up.
Table of Contents
- Frère Jacques Videos
- Song with Vocals
- Frère Jacques karaoke(free MP3 download)
- MP4 Video File | Free Download
- Frère Jacques Sheet music
- Free Printable sheet music PDF with Lyrics
- Teaching idea
Frère Jacques Videos
Sing-Along Video with lyrics
Karaoke Video with lyrics (French Version)
Original French lyrics
Frère Jacques, frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
Literal translation of the French lyrics to English:
Brother Jacob, brother Jacob,
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Ring the morning bells! Ring the morning bells!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
Karaoke Video with lyrics (English Version)
English Version
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John? Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
German lyrics
Bruder Jakob, Bruder Jakob,
Schlafst du noch? Schlafst du noch?
Horst du nicht die Glocken, horst du nicht die Glocken?
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
Spanish lyrics
Martinillo, Martinillo,
¿Donde estas? ¿Donde estas?
Suenan las campanas, Suenan las campanas,
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
Italian lyrics
Fra Martino, campanaro,
Dormi tu? Dormi tu?
Suona le campane! Suona le campane!
Din, don, dan. Din, don, dan.
Dutch lyrics
Vader Jacob, Vader Jacob,
Slaapt gij nog, slaapt gij nog, (or “slaap jij nog, slaap jij nog”)
Alle klokken luiden, Alle klokken luiden,
Bim, bam, bom. Bim, bam, bom.
Song with Vocals
This is the vocal version of this song, as recorded by Singing Bell. Play the song and sing along!
Frère Jacques karaoke
(free MP3 download)
version 1
To download your free instrumental mp3 of this song, click or tap on the following button, then choose “Save link as…”
“Frère Jacques (Version 1)” free mp3 download (instrumental, 2:51 – 4/4 – 86 bpm)
version 2
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“Frère Jacques (Version 2)” free mp3 download (instrumental, 2:48 – 4/4 – 86 bpm)
Commercial License (karaoke)
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MP4 Video File | Free Download
French
To watch the karaoke video of this song in French on your mobile device, click on the following link to download the video file (mp4 format).
Frère Jacques (French) | Free mp4 Video File Download
English
To watch the karaoke video of this song in English on your mobile device, click on the following link to download the video file (mp4 format).
Frère Jacques (English) | Free mp4 Video File Download
Frère Jacques Sheet music
in C
To save this free music sheet of “Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)” to your computer, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) and choose “Save Image As…”.
in F
To save this free music sheet of “Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)” to your computer, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) and choose “Save Image As…”.
Free Printable sheet music PDF with Lyrics
To download a printable PDF of this song for music activities with sheet music, lyrics and a drawing for kids to paint, click on the button above or on the following link.
Frère Jacques | Free PDF download – Singing Bell
You can click on the button for a printable PDF file with Guitar Chords, Tabs and Sheet Music with notes and tablature for this song for free.
Teaching idea
“Frère Jacques” is a round (a kind of canon). That means that the melody can be sung exactly the same by more voices, entering one each other. (see also “Banuwa“, “Row, row, row your boat“, “Jack and Jill” and “Kookaburra“)
For this specific song the round comes every one or every two measure. (see respectively version 1 or version 2 of the mp3).
When teaching a round, or a canon, try to let the children sing by themselves, turn your back to them and start sing the second voice without having explained exactly what was going to happen.
Some of them will keep their voice, others will follow the teacher, but the song sounds already in two voices. At this point you can teach the concept of the canon or round more easily , depending on the age and the level of the class.
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