17 February

Pierre

Promenons-nous dans les bois (also known as Loup y es-tu ?) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 17th century.

The Big Bad Wolf

The song refers to the wolf getting ready to hunt for little children.

Le grand méchant loup (the Big Bad Wolf) is a traditional fairy tale character who appears in many folk tales, such as some of Aesop's fables and Grimm's tales.

Promenons-nous dans les bois (Loup y es-tu)

The game "Loup, y es-tu?"

The song can be adapted to an outdoor game. At least two players are needed, a wolf and a walker.

A nearby place is designated where the wolf is hiding (often a tree or a wall, the important thing is not to be seen by the walkers, although they know the hiding place).

The walkers (all the other players) stand dispersed, move around and sing the beginning of the rhyme within a limited place called "the wood".

The wolf replies "I am putting on (the outfit of his choice)", the walkers repeat the rhyme.

The wolf comes out of his hiding place whenever he wants, necessarily after the questions, saying "I'm coming... Here I am...".

The suspense of the game!

The suspense lies in the fact that he can come out after the first suit as well as after the seventh. Once out in the open, the wolf tries to catch the walkers. 

For the captives, the game is over. The walkers can take refuge outside the wood that was marked out at the beginning of the game. While the rhyme is being sung, all the walkers must be in the wood.

The winner is the last free walker.

The wolf in France

The wolf has left its mark on French culture, for example through the Beast of Gévaudan affair, and through tales and legends such as Little Red Riding Hood, the Green Wolf of Jumièges, and many others.

Wolf hunting in France was first institutionalised by Charlemagne between 800 and 813, when he created the louveterie, a special corps of wolf hunters. The louveterie was abolished after the French Revolution in 1789, but re-established in 1814. In 1883, up to 1,386 wolves were killed, and many more were poisoned.

By 1940, it had disappeared completely from France and most of its neighbouring countries.

The wolf is coming back!

At the end of the 20th century, the wolf reappeared naturally due to the extension of Italian populations on French territory. The first two wolves were officially spotted on 5 November 1992 in the Alpes-Maritimes, in the Mercantour National Park.

The presence of the wolf in the Vosges mountains was attested in 2011.

In 2019 the population has reached 530 wolves in France.

Wolf in winter

Wolf in winter (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Promenons-nous dans les bois

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

Promenons-nous dans les bois

The lyrics in French

The original song of Promenons-nous dans les bois has as many verses as the number of clothes and accessories you want.

Refrain

Promenons-nous dans les bois
Pendant que le loup n'y est pas
Si le loup y était
Il nous mangerait
Mais comme il n'y est pas
Il n' nous mangera pas

Loup, y es-tu ?
Que fais-tu ?
Entends-tu ?


Loup

— Je mets ma chemise.

— Je mets ma culotte.

— Je mets ma veste.

— Je mets mes chaussettes.

— Je mets mon pantalon.

— Je mets mes bottes.

— Je mets mon chapeau.

— Je prends mon fusil.

— J’arrive !

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Chorus

Let's walk in the woods
While the wolf is away
If the wolf was there
He'd eat us
But since he's not there
He won't eat us

Wolf, are you there?
What are you doing?
Do you hear?


Wolf

- I'm putting on my shirt.

- I'm putting on my panties.

- I'm putting on my jacket.

- I'm putting on my socks.

- I'm putting on my trousers.

- I'm putting on my boots.

- I put on my hat.

- I take my rifle.

- I'm coming!

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Promenons-nous dans les bois © 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!

Escape to France with every email! Get insider insights, travel guides, cultural gems delivered and exclusive offers to your inbox twice a week. Your journey to Paris and France begins when you sign up!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover