Info
This song can be traced back to medieval France (14th / 15th centuries). It was brought to the New World in the 1600s. It was used as a paddling song with the leader doing the “call” and the others singing the “response.” (source)
Lyrics - French
(Canadian folk song)
Refrain
En roulant ma boule roulant,
En roulant ma boule.
Derrière chez nous, y’a un étang,
En roulant ma boule.
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant,
Rouli roulant, ma boule roulant. Refrain
Trois beaux canards s’en vont baignant,
En roulant ma boule.
Le fils de roi s’en va chassant,
Rouli roulant, ma boule roulant. Refrain
English Translation - Let's get the ball rolling
Refrain
Rolling my rolling ball,
By rolling my ball.
Behind us, there is a pond,
By rolling my ball.
Three beautiful ducks go swimming,
Rolling rolling, my rolling ball. Refrain
Three beautiful ducks go swimming,
By rolling my ball.
The king’s son goes hunting,
Rolling rolling, my rolling ball. Refrain
See also
- Country / Language: Canada / French
- Subject: ducks
- Form: call and response / ABA
- Harmony: chords I, IV, V
- Meter: 6/8
- Scale: hexatonic
- Tones: drmslt
- Source
- info about the song
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody