Whether you’re a fan of The Simpsons, have French family members, or just came across it on your travels, the lullaby “Alouette” is a classic and one of the most well-known French-language songs.

Those with French mothers have probably heard this song countless times before bed as children. It’s a coo as much as anything, a portal to drifting off. But what is the origin of the French lullaby, ...