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Lou Rèi vutanta vuech  
(The King eighty-eight)
Nissart lyrics and music by Gérard Albarelli, known as Gé Albarelli. Traditional from County of Nice.
This song was composed for the occasion of Carnival 1988.
| 1st verse |
Mi souòni Carneval,
Siéu un gran viagiatour.
Cad’an mèni lou bal,
Lou mounde es la miéu cour.
Aquest’an siéu au miéu
Per dounà de bouonur ;
Carneval ven au siéu,
Sus la Rìba d’Azur ! | | My name is Carnival,
I’m a great traveller.
Each year I lead the dance,
The world is my court (1).
This year, I’m at home
To give happyness;
Carnival is coming at home,
On French Riviera! |
Chorus |
Rìba d’Azur !
De San-Trop à Mentoun
Venès lèu au canoun !
Rìba d’Azur !
Lou rèi vutanta vuech
V’aspèra jou e nuech ! | | French Riviera!
From Saint-Tropez to Menton
Come quickly to the cannon (2)!
French Riviera!
The king eighty-eight
Is waiting for you day and night! |
2nd verse |
A Nissa venès lèu,
En la miéu capitala,
Balà au gran soulèu
Per una bacanala !
Aven de municioun,
Aquì mancan de ren :
De flou e de limoun
N’avèn toujou touplèn ! | | To Nice come quickly,
In my capital,
To dance by great sun
For a bacchanalian!
We have supplies,
Here we lack nothing:
Flowers and lemons
We always get a lot! |
3rd verse |
Au pais de la festa,
Sourtès lu istrumen,
Lu char e pi li testa
E lu deguisamen !
Dau gus à la vedeta,
Dau prince à l’ouvrié,
Vivès sus ’na planeta
De bei menchouneghié ! | | In country of the feast,
Take out the instruments,
The floats and the heads (3)
And the disguises!
From the beggar to the star,
From prince to the worker,
Let live on a planet
Of fine jokers (4)! |
4th verse |
Counvidi lu cousin
Babias (5), Pètou, Badòla,
Titoun e Vitourin :
Si bagnerèn la gòla !
Farìna, Panissié,
Lou brandi faran faire
Aquì au mound’ entié,
Ai gent de toui lu caire ! | | I invite the cousins
Toad, Peter, Bump,
Baptist and Victorin:
We will soak our mouth!
Flour, Panisse,
The brandi they will have
Here the whole world doing,
The people from every sides! |
5th verse |
Mi pìlhi un pan bagnat
O un plat de raiòla !
E per faire l’abat
Laìssi la parpaiòla !
Aquì siéu en vacança,
À la nèu, à la mar...
Sabès que n’ai de chança :
Aquéu pais m’es car ! | | I take a “wet bread”
Or a raviolis dish!
And to do the abat-mage
I leave the tray (6)!
Here, I’m on holidays,
At snow, at sea...
You know, I’m lucky:
This country is dear to me! |
1. Either the courtyard in which Carnival is playing, or His Majesty’s court.
2. The cannon located in Castle hill, indicating noon. The metonymy designates here the whole city of Nice.
3. Li testa: the cardboard “big heads” following, on foot, floats during Carnival parade.
4. Menchounaire or menchouneghié or menchounié: dupe, deceive, fool, hoaxer, practical joker...
5. Babias, Pètou, Badòla, Titoun, Vitourin, Farìna, Panissié (Toad, Peter, Bump, Baptist, Victor, Flour, Panisse): the “kings” of Saint-Martin-du-Var, Gilette, Peille, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, la Trinité, Roquebilière, and Lucéram respectively.
6. Parpaiòla: in stonework building, a wood tray used to bring mortar.
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