Lu Millioun de Carneval
(The Millions of Carnival)
Official song of the carnival of Nice 1937
Nissart lyrics by Jouan Nicola, music by Louis Raspini. Traditional from County of Nice.

The French original lyrics by René Lecourt are not reproduced here. The text given corresponds to the literal translation from the version in Nissart.

The theme for this year 1937 is “Millionaire with the French national lottery”.

First page of the music sheet for Lu Millioun de Carneval, illustration by Cassarini, éd. Joubert, Paris, 1937.		1st verse
		Carneval a tré millioun,           Segur es la vena ! Ma n’es ben empatagna E per mieù lu bregailla, Su li riba doù Pailloun           Per una chinzena, Ven d’arriba vincitour           Couma un gran signour !		Carnival gets three millions,           Sure, that’s a bit of luck! But he is embarrassed (1) with them And to better squander them, On banks of Paillon river           For two weeks, He just arrives, victor           As a great lord!
		Chorus
		Es Carneval, lou nouveù miliounari,           Che lausa aù vent           Lou siéu argent, En n’en dighen : Lou serveù noun m’esgari,           Aï lou tuyeù           Per gagnà leù ! Se lou voulès, ma per vou touta souleta, Douna-mi, madoumaisella, una bayetta Per devenì vou finda miliounari.           Un beù baya Noun es pa troù pagà !		It’s Carnival, the new millionnaire,           Who spreads in the wind           His money, Telling us: My brain doesn’t lose myself,           I’ve the gen           To quickly hit (the jackpot)! If you want, but for you all alone, Give me, miss, a little kiss To become you too millionnaire.           A nice kiss That’s not pay too much!
		2nd verse
		Carneval ven de crompà           Un automobile De sieï sen trenta cavaù, Che su l’aiga poù fa de traù. Lu couissin soun ben bourra           De billet de mile E li lama dai ressort           Soun d’or fin aï bort !		Carnival just buys           A car Six hundred and thirty horsepower (2), That on water is able to make holes. The cushions are well stuffed           With banknotes And springs leaves           Are of gold up to the edge!
		3rd verse
		Carneval es bouon garsoun           Ma fa troù la boumba. Veïres che sensa pitou Si va trouva ben vitou : Un bateù, pi un avioun           E una Couloumba. En dès giou lou fan fenì           A l’asil de nuit !		Carnival is a good boy           But he has too much a wild time. You will see that, without money, He is going to quickly find: A boat, then a plane           And a Columbine. Within ten days, they make he finish           At night shelter!

1. Empatagnà: to blacken, to clutter, to daub, to mackle, to smear, to stain...
2. Cavaù: horse. Here, “horsepower” (hp).

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