Trois jeunes tambours (also known as Les trois tambours) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 18th century.
The story of the song
Trois jeunes tambours was written in 1745 after the Battle of Fontenoy (11 May). It is possible that this marching song was composed by one or two or three authentic regimental drummers.
Battle of Fontenoy. Painting: Horace Vernet, 1828
This old song was mostly sung in Brittany. The refrain imitates the sound and rhythm of the drum.
A young man asks for the hand of the king's daughter, and then refuses her when he realises that she is granted to him only because he is rich.
Trois jeunes tambours
Maria Theresa of Austria
The text refers to the Queen of Hungary, i.e. Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780) and mother of Queen Marie-Antoinette.
Maria Theresia of Austria in 1759
Trois jeunes tambours
Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:
The lyrics in French
The original song of Trois jeunes tambours has 17 verses.
Couplet 1
Trois jeunes tambours s'en revenaient de guerre (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan.
S'en revenaient de guerre !
Couplet 2
Le plus jeune a dans sa bouche une rose (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan.
Dans sa bouche une rose !
Couplet 3
La fille du roi était à sa fenêtre (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Etait à sa fenêtre !
Couplet 4
Joli tambour, donnez-moi votre rose (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Donnez-moi votre rose !
Couplet 5
Fille du roi, donnez-moi votre cœur (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Donnez-moi votre coeur !
Couplet 6
Joli tambour, demandez à mon père (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Demandez à mon père !
Couplet 7
Sire le roi, donnez-moi votre fille (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Donnez-moi votre fille !
Couplet 8
Joli tambour, tu n'es pas assez riche (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Tu n'es pas assez riche !
Couplet 9
J'ai trois vaisseaux dessus la mer jolie (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Dessus la mer jolie !
Couplet 10
L'un chargé d'or, l'autre de pierreries (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
L'autre de pierreries !
Couplet 11
Et le troisième pour promener ma mie (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Pour promener ma mie !
Couplet 12
Joli tambour, dis-moi quel est ton père (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Dis-moi quel est ton père !
Couplet 13
Sire le roi, c'est le roi d'Angleterre (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
C'est le roi d'Angleterre !
Couplet 14
Et ma mère est la reine de Hongrie (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
La reine de Hongrie !
Couplet 15
Joli tambour, tu auras donc ma fille (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Tu auras donc ma fille !
Couplet 16
Sire le roi, je vous en remercie (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Je vous en remercie !
Couplet 17
Dans mon pays y en a de plus jolies (bis)
Et ri et ran, ran pa ta plan
Y en a de plus jolies !
Translation of the lyrics into English
Here is an approximative translation into English:
Verse 1
Three young drummers were returning from war (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan.
They were returning from war!
Verse 2
The youngest has a rose in his mouth (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan.
A rose in his mouth!
Verse 3
The king's daughter was at her window (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Was at her window!
Verse 4
Pretty drummer, give me your rose (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Give me your rose!
Verse 5
Daughter of the king, give me your heart (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Give me your heart!
Verse 6
Pretty drummer, ask my father (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Ask my father!
Verse 7
Sire, o king, give me your daughter (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Give me your daughter!
Verse 8
Pretty drummer, you're not rich enough (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
You're not rich enough!
Verse 9
I have three ships on the pretty sea (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa your plan
On the pretty sea!
Verse 10
One loaded with gold, the other with gems (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
The other with gems!
Verse 11
And the third to carry my lady around (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
To carry my lady around!
Verse 12
Pretty drummer, tell me who your father is (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
Tell me who your father is!
Verse 13
Sire the king, it's the king of England (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa your plan
It's the King of England!
Verse 14
And my mother is the Queen of Hungary (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
The Queen of Hungary!
Verse 15
Pretty drummer, you will have my daughter (bis)
Et ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
You'll have my daughter!
Verse 16
Sire the king, I thank you for it (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
I thank you for it!
Verse 17
In my country there are prettier ones (bis)
And ri and ran, ran pa ta plan
There are prettier ones!
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