Sur le pont d'Avignon

Pont d'Avignon at dusk

"Sur le pont d’Avignon" (French pronunciation: [syʁ lə pɔ̃ daviɲɔ̃]) is a French song about the Pont d'Avignon that dates back to the 15th century. The bridge is officially Pont St. Bénézet but it is better known as the Pont d’Avignon on which one dances, as the song says. The original version of the song was actually "Sous le Pont d'Avignon" (Under the Bridge of Avignon), because in medieval times there were popular cafés with dancing and other pleasure activities on the Ile de la Barthelasse, under the arches of the bridge. Nobody would have been allowed to dance on the bridge.

Dance description

1. It starts out with everyone in pairs and they dance around each other.
2. Then when the chorus is done stop in front of your partner and the guy (or girl) will bow on the first part then tip their hat on the second.
3. When the chorus begins again repeat step one.
4. When this stops so does the dance and then the girl curtsys to one side then the other.
5. For the last part, repeat step one and then if you have an audience turn on your heel and bow to them.

Chorus

Sur le pont d’Avignon
L'on y danse, l'on y danse
Sur le pont d’Avignon
L'on y danse tous en rond

On the bridge of Avignon
We all dance there, we all dance there
On the bridge of Avignon
We all dance there in a ring

First Verse

Les beaux messieurs font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.

The handsome young gentlemen do like this (bow)
And then like that

Second Verse

Les belles dames font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.

The beautiful young ladies do like this (curtsy)
And then like that

Third Verse

Les militaires font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça

The brave soldiers do like this (salute)
And then like that

Fourth Verse

Les musiciens font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.

The musicians do like this (play violin)
And then like that

Variation

American music publisher Cherry Lane Music Company has printed a different verse (1993):

Les jeunes filles font comme ça
Les jeunes gens font comme ça

The young girls do like this,
The young people do like this.