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Tralala (Ha, ha!) Official song of the carnival of Nice 1928 Nissart lyrics by Théotiste Martin, music by Hyacinthe Tarelli, known as Cinto Tarelli. Traditional from County of Nice.
The theme for this year 1928 is “L’Oiseau Bleu du cinquantenaire” (The Blue Bird of the Fiftieth Anniversary).

First page of the music sheet for Tralala, illustration by Gustav Adolf Mossa, éd. Delrieu frères, 1928. | | 1st verse |
Es carneval (...) Si baia (twice) Non si fair’ pregha Ah! Sighès princessa o bugadiera, Si baia (twice) Sensa si géna. Sighès pierrot, sighès colombina, Arlequin O faquin, Fa ben lou malin! Bing! De Luceram, de Londra, de China, Toui esen, Ardimen, Caù chè si rien! | | It’s carnival (...) We kiss each other (twice) Without hesitation Ah! Whether you are princess or washerwoman, We kiss each other (twice) Just don’t care! Whether you are Pierrot, whether you are Columbine, Harlequin Or wretch, Well try to show off! Bing! From Luceram, from London, from China, All together, Boldly, We have to laugh! |
Chorus |
Carneval, rei de la coca, N’en fa fair’ dé cambarotta. Lou nas flourit Coum’un toumati farcit, A per menton Un redon Cogordon. Nissa ès lou sièu terraïre, Dé rei couma eù n’y a gaïré. Es estounan Ben ch’auguhè cinquant’ ans Lou mandian! Laissa ana! Tra la la! | | Carnival, king of nock (1), Makes we do somersaults. His nose flowered Like a stuffed tomato, He gets as chin A round Gourd. Nice is his native soil, Kings as him, there’s hardly any left It’s amazing Although he had just turned 50 The scallywag! Let it be! Ha, ha! |
2nd verse |
Piccin mourrin e bella filletta, Caù baià (twice) Non vous fès pregha, Ah! Lou mourrin darrié la sofinetta Caù baià (twice) E sensa flafla. Per raùba una doussa baieta Un galant Ven planplan, Su vouostr’ coual blanc, Vlan! Coura sentès acho su la couòta, Caùcaren Vou fa ben De la testa au pen. | | Little faces and beautiful little girls We have to kiss (twice) Don’t be such a bore! Ah! The little face behind the small garret We have to kiss (twice) And without fuss. To steal a kiss, A lover Comes slowly, On your white collar, Smack! When you feel that on the nape of your neck Something Does you good From head to feet |
3rd verse |
Ché sighès d’aia ou ben de Nissa, Caù baià (twice) Sensa s’escapà, Ah! Giouvé, vieï, vé lou mondé s’esquissa Caù baià (twice) Non s’espaventà. Lou soleù endaura li taulissa, La canson Fa zonzon Coum’un moussion, Hon! Per ti flourì, l’amourous si drissa E saùpra T’invidà A véni baià! | | Whether you are from somewhere else or from Nice, We have to kiss (twice) Whitout escaping, Ah! Youngsters, the elderly, see people getting crushed We have to kiss (twice) Without appalling. The sun tinges the roofs with gold, The song Buzzes As does a midge, Hon! To treat you to some flowers, the lover stands up And will know [how] Invite you To come and kiss [him] |
4th verse |
Ché bousin aù long dé l’avenguda! Caù baià (twice) Per cair’ é canton, Zon! Filha o frema es benvenguda Caù baià (twice) Nanetta, Nanoun, Venes belli vitoù à l’ajuda, Parpaillon Pelandron, Soubré lou Paillon! Hon! Toui s’en van mé lou rir’ en boucca Per cantà, Calignà E charramelà! | | What a noise along the Avenue! We have to kiss (twice) By districts and corners, Zon! Girl or woman is welcome We have to kiss (twice) Ann, Nanon, You belles, come quickly and help, Butterfly Lazy, On the Paillon! Hon! All are going with the laugh in mouth To sing, To woo And chatter! |
1. Coca: nock, notch, and also hull of a boat, or old three decker merchant ship. In the figurative sense, perhaps designates “the one who stretches the rules of everyday life”.
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© 2001-2026 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.

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