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Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous

French Christmas Carol – Lyrics and Translation

Video and lyrics for the traditional French Christmas carol Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous. As far as I know, there is no equivalent English version; the translation provided here is literal.

Listening comprehension: See the links at the bottom for lessons related to the phrases in italics.

Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous	Here, shepherds, let us gather
Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous, Allons voir le Messie ; Cherchons cet Enfant si doux, Dans les bras de Marie. Je l’entends, il nous appelle tous, Ô sort digne d’envie !	Translation Here, shepherds, let us gather, Let’s go see the Messiah; Let’s search for this Child so sweet, In Marie’s arms. I hear Him, He is calling all of us, Oh enviable fate! [collapse]
Laissons là tout le troupeau, Qu’il erre à l’aventure, Que sans nous, sur ce côteau, Il cherche sa pâture. Allons voir dans un petit berceau L’auteur de la nature. Refrain	Translation Let us leave there all the herd, May it wander to adventure, Without us, on this hill, May it seek its pasture. Let’s go see in a little cradle The creator of nature. Chorus [collapse]
Que l’hiver par ses frimas Ait endurci la plaine, S’il croit arrêter nos pas, Cette espérance est vaine. Quand on cherche un Dieu rempli d’appas, On ne craint point la peine. Refrain	Translation May winter by its cold weather Have hardened the plain, If it believes it will stop our steps This hope is in vain. When one seeks a God full of charms, One does not fear pain. Chorus [collapse]
Sa naissance sur nos bords Ramène l’allégresse ; Répondons par nos transports À l’ardeur qui le presse. Secondons par de nouveaux efforts L’excès de sa tendresse. Refrain	Translation His birth in our lands Makes us rejoice; Let us respond with our gifts To the fervor that urges him. Let us assist with new efforts The surplus of his tenderness. Chorus [collapse]
Dieu naissant, exauce-nous, Dissipe nos alarmes ; Nous tombons à tes genoux Nous les baignons de larmes ; Hâte-toi de nous donner à tous La paix et tous ses charmes. Refrain	Translation Nascent God, answer our prayer, Dispel our alarm; We fall at your feet* We bathe them in tears; Make haste to give all of us Peace and all its charms. Chorus [collapse]
Video courtesy of Alain KalKab.	Translation by LKL

Listening comprehension

assemblons-nous, Hâte-toi – pronominal verbs in the imperative
Allons, Cherchons – imperative
cet Enfant, ce côteau – demonstrative adjectives
Je l’entends, il nous appelle, l’ardeur qui le presse – direct objects
Qu’il erre, Que l’hiver … Ait endurci – third person imperative
sa pâture, nos pas – possessive adjectives
On ne craint point – formal negation
Dieu naissant – present participles

French Christmas Links

Christmas vocab quiz

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