Bruder Jakob
German Nursery Rhyme
Original Lyrics
Bruder Jakob, Bruder Jakob,Schläfst du noch? Schläfst du noch?Hörst du nicht die Glocken? Hörst du nicht die Glocken?Ding, dang, dong! Ding, dang, dong!
English Translation
Brother Jakob, Brother Jakob,Are you still sleeping? Are you still sleeping?Don't you hear the bells? Don't you hear the bells?Ding, dang, dong! Ding, dang, dong!
History and Meaning
“Bruder Jakob” is the German version of Frère Jacques. Both versions call to a sleeping brother and imitate bells, but their third lines differ: the French asks Jacques to ring for matins, while the German asks whether Jakob hears the bells.
How do you pronounce the German?
Bruder Jakob sounds roughly like BROO-der YAH-kop. German J sounds like English y here, and the final b in Jakob sounds like p. Schläfst du noch? means “Are you still sleeping?” The ch in noch is made towards the back of the mouth. Glocken means “bells,” with the stress on the first syllable.
How do you sing it as a round?
Have everyone sing it through together first. Then divide into two groups. Group one starts at Bruder Jakob. When it reaches Schläfst du noch?, group two starts at Bruder Jakob while group one continues. Keep a steady beat and agree on a hand signal for finishing together.
The Liederprojekt song sheet prints the German, French and English versions together and marks the repetition of the bell question.
Lyrics from nurseryrhymes.info