"Frère Jacques": Unveiling the Story Behind the Timeless Nursery Rhyme

The well-known nursery rhyme "Frère Jacques," also referred to as "Brother Jacques" or "Brother John" in English, narrates the story of a monk being called to ring the bells. However, he appears to be still asleep and hasn't done his duty. The French lyrics are as follows:

"Frère Jacques, Frère JacquesDormer-vous? Dormer-vous?Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!Din, din, don. Din, din, don."

Though the rhyme might seem like a simple tale, "Frère Jacques" has generated more discussion than one might expect—from debates about the most faithful translation of the lyrics to theories suggesting the monk was based on a real-life individual, as well as the possibility that the composer of the music could have been a prominent French composer from the 18th century. Here’s a closer look at the rhyme’s narrative—and some of the unanswered questions surrounding "Frère Jacques."

Who Composed "Frère Jacques"?

The true origins of the song "Frère Jacques" remain uncertain. As noted by American Songwriter, the melody is believed to have first appeared under the title "Frère Blaise" in a manuscript titled "Recueil de Timbres de Vaudevilles" from around 1780.

Studies into the composition of this music point to one of the most renowned composers of the 18th century as a likely author. In 2014, classical music scholar Sylvie Bouisseau presented a paper arguing that the French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau was the creator of the melody. Among other supporting evidence, Bouisseau cites Jacques Joseph Marie Decroix, a collector of Rameau's scores, who included this piece in a manuscript of canons, attributing it to Rameau and donating it to the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Bouisseau also noted that the first printed appearance of the music—distinct from the handwritten version of the 1780s manuscript—was in 1811, when it was published by the Société du Caveau, a composers' group that included Rameau as a member. This lent further support to the theory that he may have composed "Frère Jacques," as the society’s possession of the piece could be explained by Rameau's involvement. However, since Rameau passed away in 1764 and the music wasn’t published until nearly 50 years later, it raises the question of why the society would have kept the work by such a renowned composer under wraps for so long.

The Interpretation of "Frère Jacques"

Beyond questions of authorship, the meaning of "Frère Jacques" has become more complicated over time, largely due to various English translations of the French lyrics.

For instance, some early English renditions of the rhyme substituted Frère Jacques with Brother John. However, John is not the direct equivalent of Jacques in English; Jacques aligns more closely with Jack, while John is a better match for Jean.

The third line, "Sonnez les matines," was once translated as "Morning bells are ringing," but this misrepresents the original meaning. The word matines is sometimes mistakenly translated as "morning," due to its similarity to matin, which means "morning" in French. However, matines actually refers to a canonical hour in Christianity, observed in the early hours of the morning. Therefore, the call to "ring the matins" is a summons to ring the bells for this period of morning prayer. A more recent translation accurately renders it as "ring the matins."

Who Was the Real Frère Jacques?

There has been some speculation regarding whether the titular character of the nursery rhyme was based on a real individual. Some have suggested that the true Frère Jacques was Jacques Beaulieu, a pioneering lithologist who occasionally wore a monk's habit and referred to himself as Frère Jacques, despite not actually being a monk. He was one of the first to adopt a lateral technique for perineal lithotomy (a surgery used to remove calcium deposits such as kidney and bladder stones through the perineum), and he performed approximately 5000 lithotomies during his career.

However, a 1999 research paper examining the life of Beaulieu found no direct link between him and the character of the nursery rhyme, ultimately concluding that the rhyme was more likely inspired by several monks who were known to sleep through their bells.

The Impact of "Frère Jacques"

Regardless of the true origins of the rhyme, "Frère Jacques" has made a significant impact in various ways.

The melody of "Frère Jacques" has played a significant role in the world of classical music, and its importance would remain regardless of whether Rameau composed it. The tune became a source of inspiration for composer Gustav Mahler, who knew it as "Bruder Martin" in its German form. He incorporated the melody into the third movement of his Symphony No. 1.

Its influence extends beyond classical music: George Harrison and John Lennon subtly included "Frère Jacques" in The Beatles' song "Paperback Writer" (pay close attention during the third verse).

Today, "Frère Jacques" is most commonly heard in its nursery rhyme form, and it is frequently used for educational purposes. For example, Leonard Bernstein invited the audience at one of his Young People’s Concerts to sing the rhyme to demonstrate how sequences can be utilized in composition.

In a 2019 survey, researchers even recommended using "a musical mnemonic" based on the song to help teach and reinforce proper handwashing techniques.