Ah! Les crocodiles

Ah! Les crocodiles ("Ah! The Crocodiles") is a traditional, popular French children's song . It's about a crocodile that with his comrades - other crocodiles - walk on the banks of the Nile in the war pulls. At the sight of an enemy elephant preparing to fight, however, it immediately throws itself into the water.

running crocodile

elephant

This 19th century song is borrowed from the piece Tromb-al-ca-zar ou les Criminels dramatiques , a Bouffonnerie musicale by Jacques Offenbach (libretto: Charles Dupeuty and Ernest Bourget) from 1856, where it is entitled Hourra du crocodile has.

As with many traditional songs, this one has countless versions and variations.

refrain

One version of the refrain - a catchy tune - reads (with German translation):

Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus

Ah! the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore Ah! die Krokro-kro, the Krokro-kro, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore

melody

Portrait of Jacques Offenbach , whose Hourra du crocodile served as the basis for the song.

text

The following is one of the many text versions of the song with a (makeshift) literal German translation:

Un crocodile, s'en allant à la guerre Disait au revoir à ses petits enfants Trainant ses pieds, ses pieds dans la poussière Il s'en allait combattre les éléphants Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Il fredonnait une marche militaire Dont il mâchait les mots à grosses dents Quand il ouvrait la gueule tout entière On croyait voir ses ennemis dedans Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus (musique) Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Un éléphant parut et sur la terre Se prépara ce combat de géants Mais près de là, coulait une rivière Le crocodile s'y jeta subitement Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus Ah! Les crocrocro, les crocrocro, les crocodiles Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis n'en parlons plus

A crocodile going to war Said goodbye to his little children Dragging his feet, his feet through the dust It goes to fight the elephants Ah! the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore Ah! die Krokro-kro, the Krokro-kro, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore A military march warbled and chewed its words with its open mouth, you thought you saw your enemies inside. Ah! the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore Ah! die Krokro-kro, die Krokro-kro, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore (music) Ah! the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore Ah! die Krokro-kro, the Krokro-kro, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore An elephant appeared and on land this gigantic struggle began But nearby a river flowed, The crocodile threw suddenly into it. Ah! the crocodile, the crocodile, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore Ah! die Krokro-kro, the Krokro-kro, the crocodiles On the banks of the Nile, they are gone, let's not talk about them anymore

See also

• Punch and Judy Theater (crocodile)

References and footnotes

1. ↑ Sound sample on Youtube (from 15:15)
2. ↑ Tromb-Al-Ca-Zar at Wikisource
3. ↑ based on a popular version (available on Youtube)
4. ↑ Pun : ne pas mâcher ses mots : " Do n't mince words "

literature

• Conrad Laforte (ed.): Le catalog de la chanson folklorique française , V Chansons Brèves (Les Enfantines) . Folklore Archives 23. Presses de l ' Université Laval . Québec 1987 ( partial online view )

Web links

• grades
• Ah! les crocodiles
• Norwegian translation by Siri Randem, 2012

Wikisource: Ah les crocrocro  - sources and full texts

Videos (selection)

• Sound sample with cartoon
• "Le crocodile" - Les Quatre Barbus (Rondes et chansons de France)
• Sound sample