Ah Les crocodiles

Ah Les crocodiles is a well-known children's rhyme about a crocodile in Egypt, which has been part of the French children's song repertoire since at least 1860.

The story of the song

"Ah les Crocodiles" is a famous children's song about a crocodile living in Egypt who goes to war with elephants on the Nile.

This little song is derived from the Hourra du crocodile (Crocodile's Hooray), from Jacques Offenbach's musical buffoonery, Tromb-al-ca-zar ou les Criminels dramatiques, created in 1856.

Ah Les crocodiles

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

The lyrics in French

The original song of Ah Les crocodiles has 5 verses and a chorus.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

A crocodile, going to war
Said goodbye to his little children
Dragging his feet, his feet in the dust
He was on his way to fight the elephants

Chorus

Ah, the crocrocro, the crocrocro, the crocodiles
On the banks of the Nile, they're gone,

Let's not talk about it anymore
Ah, the crocrocro, the crocrocro, the crocodiles
On the banks of the Nile, they're gone,

Let's not talk about it anymore

Verse 2

He hummed a military march
Whose words he chewed with his teeth
When he opened his mouth wide
You'd think you'd see his enemies in it

Verse 3

He wagged his big tail at the back
As if he was triumphant in advance
The animals before his haughty face
In the forest they ran away trembling

Verse 4

An elephant appeared and on the ground
This giant fight was prepared
But close by, a river flowed
The crocodile suddenly jumped into it

Verse 5

And filled with a salutary fear
He returned to his grandchildren.
Our elephant with a prouder trunk
Wanted to accompany this song.