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La Catarineta (The Ladybird) Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice.
Watercolour by Gustav Adolf Mossa published in Souta l’oulivié (“Under the olive tree”) by Georges Delrieu and Henri Carol, ed. Delrieu frères, to illustrate La Catarineta. | | 1st verse |
Eu Bouonjour, madoumaisèla, Qu’avès en lou faudiéu ? Ella Ligat me de farzèla, Sanjouan e roumaniéu. Eu Dapé de vous m’assèti, Se lou mi permettès. Ella Li a d’espaci à brèti, Doun vous plas vous mettès. | | He Hello, miss, What have you get in the apron (1)? She Tied with twigs, Lavender and rosemary. He Near you, I sit down, If you allow me. She There is space in abundance, Where you are pleased, you put yourself. |
Chorus, together |
Catarineta, vola, vola, vola. Catarineta, vola, volerà. (twice) | | Ladybird, fly, fly, fly. Ladybird, fly, will fly. (twice) |
2nd verse |
Eu Sus vouostra man tant fina Cen qu’ès aquéu babàu ? Ella Una bestia divina Que fà gaire de mau. Eu Sus d’una man tant neta, Bestia noun pou restà. Ella À la catarineta, Moussù, li cau cantar : | | He On your so fine hand What is this mark (2)? She A divine beast That does [not] really hurt. He On a so clean hand [This] beast can’t stay. She To the ladybird, Sir, you have to sing: |
3rd verse |
Ella Touplèn mi catigouola Caucarèn sus lou couol. Eu En l’esquina degouola, Segur, un babàu fouol, Una catarineta. Ah, noun, li toqui plus ! Ella Cantas la cansouneta E li boufas dessus. | | She A lot is tickling Something on the neck. He In the shoulder is tumbling, Sure, a crazy scarecrow (2), A ladybird. Ah! No, I no longer touch it! She Sing the little song And blow on it. |
4th verse |
Ella Moussù, empedissè-la De s’en calà plus bas ! Eu Aici, madoumaisèla, Crèsi que li si plas. Ella Una catarineta, Siès lonc à l’agantà ! Eu Bessai qu’una baieta Vau miès que de cantà : | | She Sir, prevent it To go down more! He Here, miss, I think it likes it. She A ladybird, You take a long time to catch it! He May be a kiss Is better than singing: |
5th verse |
Ella De m’aver adjudada, Bouon moussù, gramaci ! Eu Catarineta aimada, Retourne-t’en aici ! Ella Au ciel s’en ès anada, D’un vol allegr’e viéu. Es perqué l’an noumada La bestia dòu bouon Diéu ! | | She For having helped me, Good sir, thanks a lot! He Loved ladybird, Come back here! She To the sky it is gone, By a light-hearted and lively flight. That’s why it is named The beast of the dear Lord! |
1. The apron (or pinafore) was a handy means of carrying, always within arm’s reach, for our grandmothers who had not plastic bags at their disposal! 2. Babàu, literally: bogey man, ogre, scarecrow. From bau, meaning what is frightening, cf. the babarota.
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) has published in the anthology Les Contemplations (1st part “Autrefois”) this short poem; may be Georges Delrieu read it?
La coccinelle | Elle me dit : « Quelque chose Me tourmente. » Et j’aperçus Son cou de neige et, dessus, Un petit insecte rose. | J’aurais dû — mais, sage ou fou, À seize ans, on est farouche — Voir le baiser sur sa bouche Plus que l’insecte à son cou. | On eût dit un coquillage ; Dos rose et taché de noir. Les fauvettes pour nous voir Se penchaient dans le feuillage. | Sa bouche fraîche était là ; Je me courbai sur la belle, Et je pris la coccinelle ; Mais le baiser s’envola. | « Fils, apprends comme on me nomme », Dit l’insecte du ciel bleu, « Les bêtes sont au bon Dieu, Mais la bêtise est à l’homme. » |
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