15 February

Pierre

Pirouette cacahuète (also known as Il était un petit homme) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the mid-20th century.

The story of the song

The nursery rhyme was an unexpectedly popular success because it has simple, easy-to-remember words for a young audience and a recognisable melody.

The mystery around the author

Gabrielle Grandière (1920-2020), a resident of Ruaudin in the Sarthe, said she was the author of the rhyme. She claims to have created it in 1953, when she was a teacher in Alençon.

The song was recorded in 1979, then in 1982 by the children's entertainer Dorothée and also in 1997 by Sylvie Vartan. 

At each recording, Gabrielle Grandière was not credited. So, in April 2002, she wanted to register her work with the SACEM, but was unable to prove that she was the author.

(SACEM is a French professional association collecting payments of artists’ rights and distributing the rights to the original songwriters, composers, and music publishers.)

What does the title mean?

Why the expression Pirouette cacahuète? The author Gabrielle Grandière said she didn't know: "I just did whatever came to mind.

She explained that everything else in the story then came naturally to her: "For example, who has a strange house, that got me going. So cardboard, that was a no-brainer, then the stairs, paper. The postman who broke his nose, well that fits with mended."

A pirouette is a somersault and a cacahuète is a peanut.

Pirouette Cacahuète. Cardbox House. Photo rawf8 via Envato Elements

Photo: rawf8 via Envato Elements

Pirouette cacahuète

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

The lyrics in French

The song has 8 verses.

There are several versions of the song (read more)

Couplet 1

Il était un petit homme
Pirouette cacahuète
Il était un petit homme
Qui avait une drôle de maison
Qui avait une drôle de maison


Couplet 2

La maison est en carton
Pirouette cacahuète
La maison est en carton
Les escaliers sont en papier
Les escaliers sont en papier


Couplet 3

Si vous voulez y monter
Pirouette cacahuète
Si vous voulez y monter
Vous vous casserez le bout du nez
Vous vous casserez le bout du nez


Couplet 4

Le facteur y est monté
Pirouette cacahuète
Le facteur y est monté
Il s'est cassé le bout du nez
Il s'est cassé le bout du nez


Couplet 5

On lui a raccommodé
Pirouette cacahuète
On lui a raccommodé
Avec du joli fil doré
Avec du joli fil doré


Couplet 6

Le beau fil s'est cassé
Pirouette cacahuète
Le beau fil s'est cassé
Le bout du nez s'est envolé
Le bout du nez s'est envolé


Couplet 7

Un avion à réaction
Pirouette cacahuète
Un avion à réaction
A rattrapé le bout du nez
A rattrapé le bout du nez


Couplet 8

Mon histoire est terminée
Pirouette cacahuète
Mon histoire est terminée
Messieurs, Mesdames, applaudissez !
Messieurs, Mesdames, applaudissez !

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

Once there was a little man
Pirouette cacahuète
Once there was a little man
Who had a strange house
Who had a strange house


Verse 2

The house is made of cardboard
Pirouette cacahuète
The house is made of cardboard
The stairs are made of paper
The stairs are made of paper


Verse 3

If you want to go up
Pirouette cacahuète
If you want to go up
You'll break your nose
You'll break your nose


Verse 4

The postman went up there
Pirouette cacahuète
The postman went up there
He broke the tip of his nose
He broke the tip of his nose


Verse 5

They mended him
Pirouette cacahuète
We mended him
With pretty golden thread
With pretty golden thread


Verse 6

The beautiful thread broke
Pirouette cacahuète
The beautiful thread broke
The tip of the nose flew off
The tip of the nose flew off


Verse 7

A jet plane
Pirouette cacahuète
A jet plane
Caught the tip of the nose
Caught the tip of the nose


Verse 8

My story is over
Pirouette cacahuète
My story is over
Ladies and gentlemen, applause!
Ladies and gentlemen, applause!


Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Pirouette Cacahuète © 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".

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