I Hear Thunder

"I Hear Thunder" sets a small rainstorm to a borrowed tune: the children hear the thunder, feel the pitter-patter, and end up soaked through. The melody is "Frère Jacques," which makes it easy to sing as a round, one group chasing another.

What are the origins of the melody of I Hear Thunder?

The tune of "Frère Jacques" has an interesting 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 eighteenth-century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau.

What is the history of the original Frère Jacques song?

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.

How was the song adapted into English?

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.

What is the educational purpose of I Hear Thunder?

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.

How did the melody spread globally?

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.

How has the melody influenced classical music?

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.