Next Time Won’t You Sing With Me

How did you learn your ABCs? From the “Alphabet song”! Did you know it was published in 1835? How often do you still use it when having to deal with something in alphabetical order? More than you care to admit.

Did you ever realize it’s the same song as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, and “Baa Baa Black Sheep”? It’s also the tune that inspired “What a Wonderful World” (yes, the Louis Armstrong song). It’s a slower version, but the tune is unmistakable.

Many believe that Mozart composed this tune. That isn’t true. He wrote variations on what was then a well known tune. All these songs, including Mozart’s variations, can be traced to the original French folk song called “Ah! vous dirai-je, maman”. The tune itself appeared anonymously around 1740 out of the French countryside. It has been used, or has inspired many songs around the world.

The words of the French original tune are adorable.

Ah ! Vous dirai-je maman
Ce qui cause mon tourment?
Papa veut que je raisonne
Comme une grande personne
Moi je dis que les bonbons
Valent mieux que la raison.

Oh! Shall I tell you, Mommy
What is tormenting me?
Daddy wants me to reason
Like a grown-up person,
Me, I say that sweets
Are worth more than reasoning.

It’s a parody of a an anonymous love poem, “La Confidence” (The Confidence) that begins:

Ah ! Vous dirai-je, Maman,
Ce qui cause mon tourment ?
Depuis que j’ai vu Silvandre,
Me regarder d’un air tendre ;
Mon cœur dit à chaque instant :
« Peut-on vivre sans amant ? »

Ah! Would I tell you Mum,
What causes my torment?
Since I saw Silvandre,
I watch with a tender air;
My heart says at every moment:
“Can we live without a lover?”

Those French like to sing about their torment! :)

Speaking of torment, the Germans put it to a Christmas carol called “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann” which loosely translates to “Santa Claus is coming tomorrow”. The original version of the song was a bit ominous and creepy.

Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann,
Kommt mit seinen Gaben.
Trommel, Pfeife und Gewehr,
Fahn und Säbel und noch mehr,
Ja ein ganzes Kriegesheer,
Möcht’ ich gerne haben.

Santa Claus is coming tomorrow,
Comes with his gifts.
Drum, pipe and gun,
Fahn and sabers and even more,
Yes an entire army,
I desire to have you.

In response to the Germans, the Hungarians also made it a Christmas carol.

Hull a pelyhes fehér hó, jöjj el kedves Télapó!
Minden gyermek várva vár, vidám ének hangja száll. 
Van zsákodban minden jó, piros alma, mogyoró, 
Jöjj el hozzánk, várunk rád, kedves öreg Télapó.

Fluffy white snow falls, come, dear Santa!
All children waiting waiting, cheerful voice of stay.
There zsákodban all good, red apples, peanuts,
Come visit us, we wait for you, dear old Santa Claus, 
And for the love of God, 
Please save us from the German Army!

OK, I added that last part. To make up for it, here are some adorable kids singing the song…or maybe it’s a commercial for apples. I’m not really sure. Is that Hungarian? Anyway, here are the cute kids…

I could go on with other songs from other countries, but I think I’ll end it there. I have to go get that freaking tune out of my head.

NEXT TIME: Ear Worms and What You Can Do About Them