# Who wrote "Twinkle twinkle little star?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/219506>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2003, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/219506 "2003-12-17T09:18:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-twinkle-twinkle-little-star/219506/21 "2003-12-19T15:32:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by jovan \*  
> \*\*Not just some old copies - I’ve always known that piece as “variations on ‘Ah! vous dirais-je maman.’” As a matter of fact, that’s how it’s refered to on my score.
> 
> I tried finding out about where and when the song originated, but I haven’t been lucky. The original lyrics go:
> 
> _Ah! vous dirais-je maman  
> Ce qui cause mon tourment  
> Papa veut que je raisonne  
> Comme une grande personne  
> Moi, je dis que les bonbons  
> Valent bien mieux que la raison_
> 
> (Oh, mommy let me tell you  
> What causes my torment (grief)  
> Daddy wants me to reason  
> Like a grown up person  
> Me, I say that candies  
> Are much better than reason) \*\*

That’s a wonderful song! (Well, the French is - the English translation isn’t so fetching).

I’d choose that over ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ any day… 🙂

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