Are You Sleeping (Brother John / Frère Jacques) Lyrics

Are You Sleeping, known in its original French as Frère Jacques, is a traditional round dating to around 1780 in France, and it remains one of the most widely sung children's songs across language communities. It suits toddlers through early elementary children, roughly ages 2 to 7, and works equally well sung in English or French, making it a natural first exposure to a second language. Early-childhood educators often use rounds like this one because singing the same short phrase on a staggered delay helps children build listening focus and rhythmic independence, skills that transfer to reading and group music-making later on. Its short, four-line structure with heavy repetition means even very young children can join in after just one or two listens, and its gentle, descending melody suits both playful daytime singing and calmer bedtime moments. Because it exists in parallel French and English versions with matching rhythm, it also offers a simple, low-pressure way to introduce bilingual vocabulary at home. To see how repeated, round-style songs like this support language development more broadly, read Why Repetition in Kids' Songs Matters.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John? Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing,
Morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong! Ding ding dong!

(Frère Jacques version:)
Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines!
Sonnez les matines!
Din, din, don! Din, din, don!