Dansons la capucine

Dansons la capucine is a traditional circle dance for children song with lyrics dating from the 18th century.

The story of the song

This children's round was first published by Jean Baptiste Clément in 1868. It is said to have come to him from his grandmother who had lived through the French Revolution.

Indeed, it was originally a revolutionary, parodic and satirical song.
The melody is a version of the refrain of La Carmagnole, a revolutionary song composed in 1792, after the fall of Louis XVI.

A song that makes fun of the rich

The lyrics show the opposition between the wealth of some and the poverty of others. In fact, the lyrics have a rather bitter meaning. 

In the first few verses, we hear that the narrator is poorer than his neighbour, since she has bread and wine.

Then a fire breaks out, burning down the neighbour's house.

Thus, the narrator rejoices in his neighbour's misfortune.

Therefore, at the end of the song, it is the poor who are happy and the rich unhappy.

What is the 'capucine'?

However, it is not known what 'capucine' refers to. From the original song, we know it replaces the 'carmagnole', the waistcoat worn by workers in Piedmont.

The term "capucine" has an etymology of capuce.

This may be an allusion to the cap-like shape of the flower.

Or it may be an image of the dresses that form a hood when crouching at the end of the circle dance.

What is a circle dance?

The circle dance (une ronde, in French) is a traditional or children's dance in the form of a circle where the dancers usually hold hands.

Dansons la capucine

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The lyrics in French

The original song of Dansons la capucine has 4 verses.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Let's dance the capucine
There's no bread in our house
There's some at the neighbour's
But it's not for us
You!

Verse 2

Let's dance the capucine
There's no wine in our house
There's some at the neighbour's
But it's not for us
You!

Verse 3

Let's dance the capucine
There's no fire in our house
There's some at the neighbour's
But it's not for us
You!

Verse 4

Let's dance the capucine
There's fun at home
There's crying at the neighbour's
We always laugh at our home
Youh!