Pat-A-Pan
from the MMF! Songbook

History
Pat-A-Pan was written by Bernard de La Monnoye (1641-1728), who is remembered best for his collection of Burgundian carols. The carol tellls of the birth of our savior, and is told from the perspective of the shepherds. The lyrics phrase that gives the carol its name, "Pat-A-Pan", is meant to mimic the sound of a drum. The accompaning lyric, "tu-re-lu-re-lu", represents the flute. The English translation of Pat-A-Pan was first published in 1907.

Lyrics | Version 1
To the sound of flute and drum
Shepherds to the stable come
We must play our music well,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
We must play our music well,
To the Savior sing Noel.

See the shepherds haste away,
We must leave without delay.
We must play our music well,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
We must play our music well
To the savior sing Noel.
Patapan, Patapan.

God and man, your songs of praise,
With the flute and drum now raise!
Thus united play and sing,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
Thus united play and sing
To the newborn king.
Patapan, Patapan.

God and man, your songs of praise
To the flute and drum now raise!
God and man, your songs of praise
To the flute and drum now raise!
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
We must play our music well,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
To the savior sing Noel.

God and man, your songs of praise
To the flute and drum now raise!
We must play our music well
To the savior sing Noel,
Noel, Noel.

Lyrics | Version 2
Willie, take your little drum;
With your whistle, Robin, come!
When we hear the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
When we hear the fife and drum,
Christmas should be frolicsome.

Thus the men of olden days
Loved the King of kings to praise.
When they hear the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
When they hear the fife and drum,
Sure our children won't be dumb.

God and man are now become
More at one than fife and drum.
When you hear the fife and drum,
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pata-patapan,
When you hear the fife and drum,
Dance and make the village hum!

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