Table of Contents
Pat-a-pan (Guillaume prends ton tambourin)
Lyrics
1. Willie, take your little drum
Robin, bring your fife and come:
Playing on the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pat-a-pan,
We'll make music loud and gay
For our Christmas holiday.
2. Shepherds glad in ancient days
Gave the King of Kings their praise,
Playing on the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pat-a-pan,
They made music loud and gay
On the Holy Child's birthday.
3. Christian men, rejoice as one,
Leave your work and join our fun;
Playing on the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu,
Pat-a-pat-a-pan,
We'll make music loud and gay
For our Christmas holiday.
French Lyrics
1. Guillaume prends ton tambourin
Toi, prends ta flûte, Robin;
Au son de ces instruments
Turelurelu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Je dirai Noël gaîment.
2. C’était la mode autrefois
De louer le Roi des rois
Au son de ces instruments
Turelurelu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Il nous en faut faire autant.
3. L’homme et Dieu sont plus d’accord
Que la flûte et le tambour;
Au son de ces instruments
Turelurelu, patapatapan
Au son de ces instruments
Chantons, dansons, sautons en!
Author: Bernard de La Monnoye
Music & Performance
Background
“Patapan” (or “Pat-a-pan”) is a French Christmas carol in Burgundian dialect, later adapted into English.
Origin: French
First Published: 1720