The French name Jacques would not ordinarily be translated to "John", which is "Jean" in French. The French word frère in turn comes from the Latin word frater (which also means "brother"). In English, the word friar is derived from the Old French word frere (Modern French frère "brother" in English), as French was still widely used in official circles in England during the 13th century when the four great orders of Friars started. The traditional English translation preserves the scansion, but alters the meaning such that Brother John is being awakened by the bells. Frère Jacques has apparently overslept, it is time to ring the bells for matins, and someone wakes him up with this song. The song concerns a monk's duty to ring the bell for matines. The result of all four parts runs together into the same two measures: an authentic cadence.
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