If you know me, you know I like to incorporate French music into my classes as often as I can. One of my current obsessions has been collecting and recording songs from my grandmother, that she always sang to us. I hope to have a songbook and accompanying recordings ready for her 100th birthday coming up in June. Unfortunately, I’m not certain the party will actually be happening now with her residence being on lockdown at this time. Bless everyone who is looking after our elders right now and guarding them from this pandemic. I recorded this on Easter Sunday with she and Elaine and Claire on my mind as well as everyone else who is currently isolated from their loved ones in nursing and assisted living homes.

“Il y a longtemps que je t’aime, jamais je ne t’oublierai.” means: I have loved you for so long, never will I forget you.

Play along with this traditional French folk melody that uses notes only from the C major Pentatonic scale. As an added challenge, try accompanying with C & G7 chords at the 3rd fret instead of the first position chords in the video. Download sheet music options here and sing along, en français.  Nana Mouskouri recorded a version with a different set of lyrics in 1973.