Often deemed as the anthem of French Canada, Alouette Je te plumerai is a classic song sung by the Canadian people. If you've lived in Canada or your parents were Canadian, your childhood must've been filled with its memories. Your parents softly sing parts of it as your drift asleep - it was the daily routine of almost all children.
But have you ever wondered where this song came from? What does it translates literally to? Let us find out!
Written lyrics
Recall your memories of this amazing song. Remember the entire lyrics? Here's what the original french lyrics look like:
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Aloutette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tete
Je te plumerai la tete
Et la tete
Et la tete
Alouett’
Alouett’
Oh,
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le bec
Je te plumerai le bec
Et le bec
Et le bec
Et la tete
Et la tete
Alouett’
Alouett’
Oh,
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le nez
Je te plumerai le nez
Et le nez
Et le nez
Et le bec
Et le bec
Et la tete
Et la tete
Alouett’
Alouett’
Oh,
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le cou
Je te plumerai le cou
Et le cou
Et le cou
Et le nez
Et le nez
Et le bec
Et le bec
Et la tete
Et la tete
Alouette’
Alouette’
Oh,
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le dos
Je te plumerai le dos
Et le dos
Et le dos
Et le cou
Et le cou
Et le nez
Et le nez
Et le bec
Et le bec
Et la tete
Et la tete
Alouett’
Alouett’
Oh,
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Printable lyrics
Don't let the tradition of singing Alouette and its soft lyrics die down! Let your children, too, live those memories by printing out this song here.
Photo lyrics
Video links
Instead of just reading out loud, try listening to this amusing and eye-catching instrumental version of Alouette.
Origins and history
Alouette (ah-lou-eht or alwɛt) is one of the most famous folk songs in Canada. The parents and schools use this kids' song to teach french and help them become fluent. Its origins have set to have rooted in Quebec, Canada, about 100 years ago. The Canadian encyclopedia has even named it the unofficial anthem of French Canada.
The song is said to have a French-Canadian background because its first appearance was in McGill University students’ handbook, 1879. It is also claimed that the song might have been sung by the fur traders (French-Candian colonists). They used to consume lark, a game bird, and that is where the name has been said to have originated from.
The French chorus goes, “Alouette, gentille alouette, alouette Je te plumerai” whose literal English translation is "lark, nice lark, lark I will pluck your feathers." As the song continues, more bird parts keep getting added, like the head, wings, back, and tail.
FAQ
Yes, Alouette is a French word for a Lark, a small brown bird hunted for its flesh during the voyageurs.
The origin of Alouette dates back to 1879. It was first published as "Alouetté" in A Pocket Song Book for the Use of Students and Graduates of McGill College (Montreal 1879). Later in 1885, it was changed to "Alouette" after getting published in the McGill College Song Book.
The original author of the song remains unknown as it has been passed through the generations orally. However, Marius Barbeau, a French folklorist, believes that it was written in France. While James J. Fuld says that since it first appeared in A Pocket Song Book for the Use of Students and Graduates of McGill College of Montreal, the origins are rooted in Canada.
Alouette is pronounced as al-oo-et-uhz or aˈlwɛt in English.
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