Pirouette cacahuète

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

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)

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!