Sur le Pont d’Avignon is one of the most popular French nursery rhymes and dance songs. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century and originally the song was about a dance under the bridge of Avignon (sous le pont d’Avignon) rather than on the bridge as it is performed currently (sur le pont d’Avignon).
The bridge referenced in the song is the Saint-Bénézet Bridge built in the 12th century.
As with many nursery rhymes, the song has many variations in place and the dances associated with it may differ from region to region but they all start out with people in pairs dancing around each other and stopping the dance and bowing when the chorus is finished.
Sur le Pont D’Avignon Lyrics
Sur le Pont D’Avignon
French Version
Chrous
Sur le Pont d’Avignon
L’on y danse, l’on y danse
Sur le Pont d’Avignon
L’on y danse tous en rond.
Les beaux messieurs font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
Chorus
Les belles dames font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
Chorus
Les filles font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
Chorus
Les musiciens font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.
Chorus
Sur le Pont D’Avignon
English Translation
On the bridge of Avignon
We’re all dancing, we’re all dancing
On the bridge of Avignon
We all dance in circles.
The fine gentlemen go like this
And then again like this.
Chorus
The beautiful ladies go like this
And then again like that.
Chorus
The young girls go like this
And then like that.
Chorus
The musicians go like this
And then like that.
Chorus
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