Welcome to Rupert’s other languages page!

This is a parody song for Christmas, by way of an antidote to that “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” song which has dominated so may Christmas concerts and shopping malls.

I have used my own melody (reminiscent of the red-nosed tune but clearly different, for copyright reasons) and I have provided versions here in English, and also in French and German.

Speakers of other languages are welcome to add versions in their own tongue - please email me [dwsolo [at] gmail.com] with your version (together with a literal translation by way of a check) and I’ll add it to this page.

Your versions can be “words only” but if they come with music notation too (as pdf) so much the better!

Awaiting other versions.......

Scores:

Voices with piano or with piano and percussion or just with guitar chords (various keys) - in English

Voices with piano or with piano and percussion or just with guitar chords (various keys) in French

Voices with piano or with piano and percussion or just with guitar chords (various keys) - in German

SAB choir or women’s choir and bass instrument in English and German

My attempt at a Latin version*:

Rupertus angelus dulcis

Ita tempus advenit foci caloris

Mellis nucumque et liberi temporis

Sed scitis quis est dulcis celeberrimus?

Rupertus angelus dulcis

Sedebat apud focum

Quia audivit Nicolam

Advenire cum primum

Toti alii dulces

Dixerunt eum dementem

Rimanebant in frigore

Ne deliquerent

Per noctem advenit Nicolas

Bibit vinum tunc

Edit placentulas

et requievit nunc

Circumspexit tunc Nicolas

Eheu Rupertum vidit

Liquefactum angelum

Dulcem cibum nunc edit.

(Literal translation of the Latin version)

Rupert the sweet angel

The time has indeed come of fireside heat

honey, nuts and free time

But do you know who's the most famous sweet?

Rupert the sweet angel

was sitting by the fireside

Because he heard that Nicolas

was coming very soon

All of the other sweets

Called him mad

They stayed in the cool

Lest they should melt.

Nicolas arrived at

night

then he drank the wine

and ate the little cakes

and now had a rest

Nicolas looked

around

Alas he saw Rupert

A melted angel

and now he ate a sweet feast

*

Note regarding my Latin version - This is the result of a very unserious attempt based on my very old A Level Latin; classical scholars with more knowledge are welcome to offer alternatives.

I’ve added a few rhymes where possible, but Latin poetry didn’t use rhymes, so I’m not too worried about missing some.

Chocolate didn’t exist in ancient Rome.  I was tempted to make Rupert out of buttercream for this translation, but apparently they didn’t use butter much either, so I plumped for “dulcis” = “sweet”)

Placentulas is an invented word - a diminutive of “placenta”, which was a flat bread style cake which often had a tomato based sauce on top of it. Makes one wonder about the modern meaning of that word!

Arabic version:

أكل الحلو شو طيب مع العرق والويسكي

ذوق هل قشطة والكنافة مع القطر بالمستكي

بس بتعرف شو أطيب حلو بهاليوم

رووبرت ملك الشكولاتة

ناطر حد النار بهالليل

كان على موعد مع سانتا

على الطريق مرتاح البال

كل الحلويات الطيبة قالولو انت مجنون

كانوا خايفين يذوبو وراحوا يناموا بهالبرود

بنفس الليلة سانتا دق على الباب

جايي بزيارة وشرب الويسكي بثلاث كاسات

ونعس وراح ينام

ولمن وعي، شاف رووبرت

ذاب ومات وما في شهود

أكل رووبرت وتهنا

والشكولاتة بالعيد موجود

Literal translation from the Arabic version:

Eating sweets is so delicious with Arak and Whisky

have a taste of this cream, Knafeh with syrup and Mistky

but do you know the most delicious sweet of all today?

Rupert the chocolate angel

Waited by the fire tonight

'cos he had a date with Santa

who was on his way and unconcerned

all of the other delicious sweets told him that he was a fool

they were afraid of melting, so they went to sleep in the cool

but that night, Santa came along and knocked on the door

he came to visit, and drank the Whisky in three glasses (or measures)

he got sleepy and had a nap

 

when he got up, he looked round at Rupert

who melted and deceased with no one to witness

he ate Rupert and was quite satisfied

and the chocolate in this feast is plentiful

With many thanks to Joe El Kadi and Saiid Baugi