Le bal des chats – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Cécile Corbel

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the enchanting world of Cécile Corbel through "Le bal des chats," a song that beautifully blends Celtic melodies with a charming story. Learn how traditional music can tell captivating tales, sparking imagination and a sense of wonder, much like a fairytale.

[English]

A big cat went to the ball

Tikiti tom ta tikiti tom

A big cat went to the ball

Tikiti tom ti day

A big cat went to the ball

Took his boots and his horse

Me cax macari duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

At the ball of cats and mice

Tikiti tom ta tikiti tom

At the ball of cats and mice

Tikit tom tiday

At the ball of cats and mice

With small steps, rounds and quadrilles

Me cax macare duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

...

Hey mouse, do you want to marry me?

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

Hey mouse, do you want to marry me?

Tikiti tom ti lay

Hey mouse, do you want to marry me?

I have gold and credit

Me cax macare duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

...

I don't want to marry

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

No, I don't want to marry

Tikiti tom ti day

I don't want to marry

I want to run in the wheat

Me cax macare duck and a dill

Tikiti tom ti day

...

I don't want to marry

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

No, I don't want to marry

Tikiti tom ti day

I don't want to marry

Get your paws off, nasty gray cat

Me cax macare duck and a dill

Tikiti tom ti lay

...

[French]

Un gros chat se rendit au bal

Tikiti tom ta tikiti tom

Un gros chat se rendit au bal

Tikiti tom ti day

Un gros chat se rendit au bal

A pris ses bottes et son cheval

Me cax macari duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

Au bal des chats et des souris

Tikiti tom ta tikiti tom

Au bal des chats et des souris

Tikit tom tiday

Au bal des chats et des souris

À petits pas, rondes et quadrilles

Me cax macare duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

Hey souris, veux-tu qu'on se marie?

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

Hey souris, veux-tu qu'on se marie?

Tikiti tom ti lay

Hey souris veux-tu qu'on se marie?

J'ai de l'or et du crédit

Me cax macare duck and a dil

Tikiti tom ti day

Je ne veux pas me marier

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

Non, je ne veux pas me marier

Tikiti tom ti day

Je ne veux pas me marier

Je veux courir dans les blés

Me cax macare duck and a dill

Tikiti tom ti day

Je ne veux pas me marier

Tikit tom ta tikiti tom

Non, je ne veux pas me marier

Tikiti tom ti day

Je ne veux pas me marier

Ôte tes pattes, vilain chat gris

Me cax macare duck and a dill

Tikiti tom ti lay

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chat /ʃa/ A1	noun - cat
bal /bal/ A2	noun - ball (dance)
souris /suʁi/ A1	noun - mouse
marier /maʁje/ B1	verb - to marry
courir /kuʁiʁ/ A2	verb - to run
bottes /bɔt/ A2	noun - boots
cheval /ʃəval/ A1	noun - horse
or /ɔʁ/ B1	noun - gold
crédit /kʁe.di/ B2	noun - credit
vilain /vi.lɛ̃/ B1	adjective - naughty, ugly
gris /ɡʁi/ A2	adjective - gray
petits /pə.ti/ A1	adjective - small
pas /pa/ A1	noun - step
rondes /ʁɔ̃d/ B1	noun - round dances
quadrilles /kadril/ B2	noun - quadrilles (a type of dance)

Key Grammar Structures

• Un gros chat se rendit au bal

  ➔ Past tense (passé simple) used to describe a completed action.

  ➔ The phrase "Un gros chat" means "A big cat" and indicates the subject of the sentence.

• Hey souris, veux-tu qu'on se marie?

  ➔ Interrogative form used to ask a question.

  ➔ The phrase "veux-tu" means "do you want" and is used to ask for someone's desire.

• Je ne veux pas me marier

  ➔ Negation used to express refusal.

  ➔ The phrase "Je ne veux pas" means "I do not want" and indicates a clear refusal.

• À petits pas, rondes et quadrilles

  ➔ Use of adjectives to describe nouns.

  ➔ The phrase "À petits pas" means "In small steps" and describes the manner of movement.

• Ôte tes pattes, vilain chat gris

  ➔ Imperative form used to give commands.

  ➔ The phrase "Ôte tes pattes" means "Remove your paws" and is a direct command.