Info

Pulcinella (Italian), Punchinello (English), Polichinelle (French) – traditional Italian theater silly character from the 17th century, also a puppet. (source) (source)

Lyrics - French

(French folk song)

Refrain
Pan! Pan! Qu’est_ce qu’est là?
C’est Polichinelle mam’selle,
Pan! Pan! Qu’est_ce qu’est là?
C’est Polichinelle que v’là!

Il est mal fait
Et craint de vous déplaire,
Mais il espère
Vous chanter son couplet. Refrain

Toujours joyeux
Il aime fort la danse
Il se balance
‘un petit air gracieux. Refrain

English Translation

Refrain
Hark! Who’s there?
It’s Polichinelle, madame.
Hark! Who’s there?
It’s Polichinelle, here I am.

He is not perfect
And is afraid to displease you
But he hopes
To sing you his melody. Refrain

Always joyful,
He loves to dance
He can balance
With a sense of grace. Refrain
(source)

Game

Formation – Students stand in a circle with one student (Polichinelle) standing in the middle.

Option 1:

Refrain = Students in the circle hold hands high while Polichinelle weaves in and out of the spaces between students, ending up in the middle.
Verses = Polichinelle makes a motion that students imitate.

Polichinelle picks a new student to be Polichinelle, and the game is repeated.

Option 2:

Refrain = Students in the circle walk to the steady beat while making large (silly) arm movements. Polichinelle could decide ahead of time what the silly motions will do.
Verses = Students stand still (in the circle) Polichinelle makes a motion that students imitate.

See also

YouTube

  • PDF of song with chords
  • MIDI file
  • Listen to the melody

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