Pat A Pan, from Family Christmas Online™

This song is attributed to seventeenth-century Burgundian composer Bernard de la Monnoye. No one is certain whether de la Monnoye borrowed the melody from an earlier folk tune or wrote the tune himself, which he certainly had the talent to do. In 1833, the carol was printed in a collection by Englishman William Sandys. The author of the most popular English translation, however, is unknown.

In the song, the narrator calls to Guillô (William) and Rôbin to celebrate Christmas by playing on flute and drum. The names Guillô and Rôbin are common names, lending to the "down-to-earth" provincial feeling of this tune. The "fleúte" is probably a pipe of some sort, possibly one with only three holes. The tamborin is a small drum that is relatively long - it looks and is played something like a miniature conga, and has a deep, if not terribly loud voice. The tamborin may have a "snare" attached to the top head, which would add a "briskness" to the sound as well. To this day pipes and drums are used during Christmas services in Provence.

French Lyrics

Guillô, pran ton tamborin;
Toi, pran tai fleúte, Rôbin!
Au son de cé instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cé instruman
Je diron Noei gaiman

C’ étó lai môde autrefoi
De 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 cu
Randons an graice ai Jesu
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés instruman,
Fezon lai nique ai Satan.

L’homme et Dei son pu d’aicor
Que lai fleúte & le tambor.
Au son de cés instruman,
Turelurelu, patapatapan,
Au son de cés instruman,
Chanton, danson, sautons-an.

English Lyrics

Willie, get your little drum,
Robin, bring your pipe and come.
Aren’t they fun to play upon?
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
When you play your pipe and drum,
How can anyone be glum?

When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise,
They had pipes to play upon.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
And also the drums they’d play,
Full of joy, on Christmas Day.

God and man today become
Closely joined as pipe and drum.
Let the joyous tune play on!
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan;
As the instruments you play,
We will sing, this Christmas Day.

If you have any corrections or comments you would like to make about this page, please contact me and I will be glad to hear from you. God bless - Paul