# Au Clair de la Lune

"Au clair de la lune" is an 18th-century French folk song of unknown authorship that holds a unique place in history: a few bars of it, recorded in 1860, are the earliest recognisable recording of a human voice.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Sung in | French |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | 18th century (in print 1820) |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | lullaby, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/au-clair-de-la-lune/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (fr)

Au clair de la lune,
Mon ami Pierrot,
Prête-moi ta plume
Pour écrire un mot.
Ma chandelle est morte,
Je n'ai plus de feu.
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l'amour de Dieu.

### English translation (en)

By the light of the moon,
my friend Pierrot,
lend me your pen
to write a word.
My candle is dead,
I have no more fire.
Open your door to me
for the love of God.

## Common questions

**What is "Au clair de la lune" about?**

A small night-time scene. By the light of the moon, the singer calls on a friend named Pierrot: lend me your pen to write a word, my candle has gone out and I have no fire, so open your door for the love of God. It is gentle and a little melancholy, and is often sung as a lullaby.

**How old is "Au Clair de la Lune", and who wrote it?**

It is a French folk song of the 18th century whose composer and lyricist are unknown. It first appeared in print in 1820, and a fuller four-verse version was published in 1858.

**Why is "Au Clair de la Lune" historically important?**

Because of a recording. On 9 April 1860, Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville captured someone singing its opening line on his "phonautograph" — the earliest recognisable recording of the human voice, made 17 years before Edison's phonograph. The trace was turned back into playable sound in 2008.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Au clair de la lune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_clair_de_la_lune)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q758389