Debussy had already quoted the song Nous n'irons plus au bois in Images oubliées of 1894 for piano and in Jardins sous la pluie from Estampes (1903).
In his earlier compositions, Debussy had previously incorporated the melody of Nous n'irons plus au bois into his music, notably in Images oubliées for piano in 1894 and Jardins sous la pluie from Estampes in 1903.