6 February

Pierre

Fais dodo (also known as Colas mon p'tit frère) is a French lullaby whose author is unknown and is in the public domain.

Fais dodo. Photo choreograph via Envato Elements

Photo: choreograph via Envato Elements

About the song

Nobody knows who the composer was but the lullaby seems to date back to the 18th century. The well-known melody is sung in all regions of France and also in Quebec.

Who is 'Colas'?

According to most opinions, it seems that "Colas" is the diminutive of the name "Nicolas".

What is 'Lolo'?

The "lolo" is an infantile word meaning the mother's milk or breast or simply to eat.

What is 'Faire dodo'?

The expression "faire dodo" (which is very popular in France), simply means "to sleep".

Fais dodo

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

Fais dodo

The lyrics in French

The original song of Fais dodo has 2 verses and a chorus.

There are some variations, where the ingredients of the text change. For example, sometimes nougat replaces chocolat.

Couplet 1

Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère,
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo.
Maman est en haut qui fait du gâteau,
Papa est en bas qui fait du chocolat .
Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère,
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo.


Couplet 2

Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère,
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo.
Si tu fais dodo, Maman vient bientôt
Si tu ne dors pas, Papa s’en ira
Fais dodo, Colas mon p'tit frère,
Fais dodo, t'auras du lolo.

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Go to sleep, Colas my little brother,
Go to sleep, you'll get some milk.
Mum is upstairs
making cake,
Daddy's downstairs making hot chocolate.
Go to sleep, Colas my little brother,
Go to sleep, you'll get some milk.


Verse 2

Go to sleep, Colas my little brother,
Go to sleep, you'll get some milk.
If you go to sleep Mummy will come soo
If you don't sleep Daddy will go away
Go to sleep, Colas my little brother,
Go to sleep, you'll get some milk.

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Fais dodo © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover