Song Meaning

Alan Stivell's 'Raog Mont D'ar Skol' translates from Breton to 'Before Going to School,' and it’s a deceptively simple title for a song that burrows into the anxieties and affections of early childhood. The lullaby-esque repetition of 'Babig bihan, babig bihan' (Little baby, little baby) creates a sonic womb, a space of comfort before the child, Maelwenn, confronts the world outside the home. But this isn't saccharine nostalgia; there's a subtle undercurrent of urgency, even mild chaos, reflecting the emotional intensity of a child's experience. The song touches on universal themes of parental care, the child's reluctance to face the school day, and the safe haven of the domestic sphere. The lyrics sketch a vignette of morning routines – getting dressed ('Roit ho troad kleiz din da lakaad ho pragoù' - 'Give me your left foot so I can put on your trousers'), preparing for the day ahead. The second verse shifts, hinting at the child's school experiences. The question 'Petra 'peus gwraet, petra 'peus gwraet bar skol' ('What have you done, what have you done at school?') is loaded with parental curiosity and perhaps a touch of apprehension. The child's response, though fragmented, speaks volumes: a chase, a cat on the roof seeking a white butterfly. This imagery is pure childhood – whimsical, slightly surreal, and hinting at a world of imagination beyond adult comprehension. The cat chasing the butterfly becomes a metaphor for the fleeting, ephemeral nature of childhood itself, a pursuit of something beautiful and unattainable. The reference to needing to wash water off, 'vel 'r boc'h oc'h lous' ('like a dirty goat'), suggests a playful, messy existence. Finally, the song returns to the comfort of home and the promise of food ('Petra so da zebriñ, petra so ban' ti, petra so da zebriñ tadig ?' - 'What is there to eat, what is in the house, what is there to eat, daddy?'). The menu – 'soubenn rous' (brown soup), beef, lamb – is simple but nourishing, a symbol of parental provision and care. The ending, 'Achu eo 'n deiz, achu eo 'n dewezh' ('The day is done, the day is over'), and the return to 'Maelwenn bihan' brings the song full circle, back to the safety and security of the child's name and the close of day. 'Raog Mont D'ar Skol' isn't just a children's song; it's a poignant meditation on the transition from the protected world of infancy to the challenges and adventures of growing up, all filtered through the lens of parental love and concern.