Lyrics

(Bernard de La Monnoye, 1720, France)

Willie, bring your little drum
Robin bring your flute and come
We’ll be joyous as you play
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
We’ll be joyous as you play
On a Merry Christmas day!

When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise
They had pipes on which to play
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
They had drums on which to play
Full of joy on Christmas Day.

God and man this day become
Join us one with flute and drum
Let the happy tune play on
Tooralooraloo, pat-a-pat-a-pan
Flute and drum together play
As they sing on Christmas day.

Original Version

Lyrics - Burgundian

(Bernard de La Monnoye, 1720, France, Burgundian dialect)

Guillô, pran ton tamborin;
Toi, pran tai fleúte, Rôbin!
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés 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.

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.

English Translation

Willie, get your little drum,
Robin, bring your flute and come,
Aren’t they fun to play upon?
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
When you play your fife and drum,
How can anyone be glum?

When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise,
They had pipes to play upon,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
And also the drums they’d play,
Full of joy on Christmas Day.

God and man today become
Closely joined as flute and drum,
Let the joyous tune play on,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
As the instruments you play,
We will sing this Christmas Day.

source: The International Book of Christmas Carols, Walter Ehret & George K. Evans, 1963

See also

YouTube

or purchase here or here (printables only)

  • PDF of song with chords + Lesson ideas + Orff arrangement
  • MIDI file
  • Listen to the song

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