What does Are You Sleeping (Brother John) mean?
A soft little song that gently wakes up a sleepyhead named Brother John, telling him the morning bells are ringing. It is often sung as a round, with singers starting at different times.
What Are You Sleeping (Brother John) teaches
Beyond being fun to sing, this rhyme quietly builds several early skills:
- A gentle morning routine
- Sounds like the ringing bells, ding ding dong
- Singing as a round, for older children
- A calm, repeating tune that is easy to learn
When your child knows it well, our flashcards for kids carry the same early skills into playful practice.
Where Are You Sleeping (Brother John) comes from
This is the English version of the old French round "Frere Jacques", which is hundreds of years old. It has no single author and is in the public domain.
Fun activities
- Pretend to sleep, then wake up when the bells ring
- Ring a little bell on the ding ding dong
- Try singing it as a round with a grown-up
Frequently asked questions
What are the words to Are You Sleeping?
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, Brother John, Brother John? Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing, ding, ding, dong. Ding, ding, dong.
Is Are You Sleeping the same as Frere Jacques?
Yes. Are You Sleeping (Brother John) is the English version of the old French round Frere Jacques. The tune is exactly the same.
What is a round in Are You Sleeping?
A round is when singers start the same song at different times so the parts overlap. Are You Sleeping is one of the most famous rounds for children.