Song

This multi-lingual round was recorded (with a number of friends) in the summer of 2011 in my kitchen in Winnipeg. The round was sung in 4 parts, each different:

1) French (Frere Jacques),
2) the English translation of the French (Brother John),
3) Chinese (Liang Zhi Lao Hu), and
4) the English translation of the Chinese (Two Tigers).

The words for each part are listed below.

Click here to download an audio file of the song.

Frere Jacques
traditional French version

Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don.

Brother John
English translation of the French

Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.

Liang Zhi Lao Hu
according to Wikipedia this rhyme originated in Taiwan

Liang zhi lao hu. Liang zhi lao hu.
Pao de kuai, pao de kuai,
Yi zhi mei you yan jing. Yi zhi mei you wei ba.
Zhen qi guai. Zhen qi guai.

Two Tigers
English translation of the Chinese

Two tigers, two tigers.
Running fast, running fast.
One without an eye, one without a tail.
Very strange, very strange.

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