I Hear Thunder

"I Hear Thunder" is a popular children's song that borrows its melody from the famous French folk song "Frère Jacques" (also known as "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?").

The Melody's Origins

The tune of "Frère Jacques" has a fascinating history:

• The earliest known written version appeared in a French manuscript around 1780, titled "Recueil de Timbres de Vaudevilles," where it was called "Frère Blaise"
• The words and music together were first published in Paris in 1869, though an earlier 1825 publication contained the words with a description of the melody
• In 2014, classical music scholar Sylvie Bouissou suggested the music may have been composed by the notable 18th-century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau

The Original "Frère Jacques"

The original French song is about a friar (Brother Jacques) who has overslept and is being urged to wake up and ring the bells for matins—the early morning prayers. Some historians speculate that the song may have been created to gently mock monks, such as the Dominican friars (known as the Jacobin order in France), for perceived lazy lifestyles.

Adaptation as "I Hear Thunder"

The English adaptation transforms the melody into a song about weather, with lyrics typically going:

"I hear thunder! I hear thunder! Hark, don't you? Hark, don't you? Pitter, patter raindrops, pitter, patter raindrops. I'm wet through, so are you!"

Some versions include additional verses about seeing blue skies and sunshine, creating a complete weather narrative.

Purpose and Use

"I Hear Thunder" serves several purposes:

• Comforting children during storms: The song transforms potentially scary thunder into a playful, musical experience
• Teaching about weather: The lyrics introduce concepts of thunder, rain, and changing weather
• Action song: Children can act out the sounds and feelings of a rainstorm

A Global Melody

The "Frère Jacques" melody is renowned for its simplicity and is often sung as a round (where different groups start singing at different times). Its accessible nature has allowed it to spread globally and be adapted into many languages and cultures. In China, the melody is used for a popular song called "Two Tigers" and is widely considered a local folk song there.

Classical Influence

The melody's influence extends beyond nursery rhymes. Composer Gustav Mahler famously incorporated the "Frère Jacques" tune into his Symphony No. 1, demonstrating how this simple children's melody has penetrated the highest levels of classical music.