"Patapan" (or "Pat-a-pan") is a French Christmas carol in Burgundian dialect, later adapted into English. It was written by Bernard de la Monnoye (1641–1728) and first published in Noël bourguignons in 1720.[1] Its original title is "Guillô, pran ton tamborin" ("Willie, Bring Your Little Drum" or "Willie, Take Your Little Drum").
The carol revolves around the birth of Jesus, and is told from the perspective of shepherds playing simple instruments—flutes and drums—the onomatopoeic sound of which gives the song its name; "patapan" mimics the sound of the drum, "tu-re-lu-re-lu" the flute. It inspired the 1941 carol "The Little Drummer Boy" with its chorus of "pa-rum-pa-pum-pum".[2]
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C' étó lai môde autrefoiDe loüé le Roi dé Roi,Au son de cés instruman,Turelurelu, patapatapan,Au son de cés instruman,Ai nos an fau faire autan.
Ce jor le Diale at ai cuRandons an graice ai JesuAu son de cés instruman,Turelurelu, patapatapan,Au son de cés instruman,Fezon lai nique ai Satan.
L'homme et Dei son pu d'aicorQue lai fleúte & le tambor.Au son de cés instruman,Turelurelu, patapatapan,Au son de cés instruman,Chanton, danson, sautons-an.
C'était la mode d'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.
Ce jour le diable est vaincuRendons-en grâce à Jésus.Au son de ces instruments,Turelurelu, patapatapan,Au son de ces instruments,Faisons la nique à Satan.
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!
Thus the men of olden daysfor the King of Kings to praise,When they heard the fife and drum,tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,When they hear the fife and drum,sure, our children won't be dumb.
God and man are now becomemore at one than fife and drum.When you hear the fife and drum,tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,When you hear the fife and drum,dance and make the village hum.
When the men of olden daysTo the King of Kings gave praise,On the fife and drum did play,Patta-patta-pan, turra-lurra-lay,On the fife and drum did play,So their hearts were glad and gay
There is music in the airYou can hear it everywhere,Fife and drum together play,Patta-patta-pan, turra-lurra-lay,Fife and drum together play,On this joyous Holiday
God and man today becomeMore in tune than fife and drum,Fife and drum together play,Patta-patta-pan, turra-lurra-lay,Fife and drum together play,On this joyous Holiday.[3]
global =
chordNames = \chordmode
soprano = \relative c
tenor = \relative c tenorMIDI = \relative c
verseOne = \lyricmode
verseTwo = \new Lyrics \lyricmode
\score \score Source[4]