Source Req etc.: La Krokodil'

Subject: Source Req etc.: La Krokodil'
From: GUEST,Liland (guest again)
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 10:10 PM

La Krokodil' (The Crocodile)

This is a song (Kantfesto I, p. 60, also in my Donu hejmon al mi) that I only know in Esperanto, but that I imagine is of French or nearby origin. The MIDI is at La Krokodil' : Melodio. The text *means* as follows

1. The crocodile going to war
   Has just said good-bye to its young ones;
   It went off roaring with excitement,
   Thinking craftily about elephants.
   

   (Refrain)
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o!

2. It murmured a military march, swallowing
   Between its teeth, words stayed away;
   When it opened its huge mouth all the way,
   the enemies' hearts trembled.
   

   (Refrain)
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o!

3. Its song hummed at the banks of the Nile,
   And everything on the banks of the Nile trembled.
   But suddenly an elephant arrived,
   And the brave crocodile disappeared.
   

   (Refrain)
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
   Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
   O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o!

(This is a very literal, unsingable translation, obviously.) I am interested to know what the original language and original text is; whether there are other texts (in any language) to that tune; and whether there is a workable English singing text. Anybody know?

Liland

Subject: RE: Source Req etc.: La Krokodil'
From: Wolfgang
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 08:02 AM

Since this is a french children song, I'd say it's French in origin, but I don't know for sure.

Wolfgang

Ah! les crocodiles


Un crocodile, s'en allant à la guerre,
Disait, au r'voir, à ses petits enfants,
Traînant les pieds dans la poussière
Il s'en allait combattr' les éléphants.

{Refrain:}
Ah ! les cro, cro, cro, les cro, cro, cro, les crocodiles
Sur les bords du Nil, ils sont partis, n'en parlons plus {x2}

Il fredonnait une marche militaire,
Dont il mâchait les mots à grosses dents,
Quand il ouvrait la gueule tout entière,
On croyait voir ses ennemis dedans.

Il agitait sa grande queue à l'arrière,
Comm' s'il était d'avance triomphant,
Les animaux devant sa mine altière,
Dans les forêts, s'enfuyaient tout tremblants.

Un éléphant parut : et sur la terre
Se prépara ce combat de géants.
Mais près de là, courait une rivière :
Le crocodile s'y jeta subitement.

Et tout rempli d'un' crainte salutaire
S'en retourna vers ses petits enfants
Notre éléphant, d'une trompe plus fière,
Voulut alors accompagner ce chant.

Subject: RE: Source Req etc.: La Krokodil'
From: GUEST,Liland
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 08:41 PM

Thanks, Wolfgang, I thought it was probably French; now, anybody have a *singable* English version (or, better yet, one that is not merely singable but actually sung!)?

Liland