Lu Cougourdoun
(The Small Gourds)
Nissart lyrics by Jouan Nicola, music by Marius Ausello. Traditional from County of Nice.

The feast of the cougourdoun (“the small gourds”) was held at Cimiez hill, on March 25st, where it gathered together the whole youth of the town of Nice.

See also Lu Cougourdoun, by Menica Rondelly and En calan de Cimiès, by Jouan Nicola.

Lu Cougourdoun as seen by Gustav Adolf Mossa.
		1st verse
		Mounten damoun, su la coulina, Es lou festin dei Cougourdoun. Dejà flourisse l’aubepina, L’aria n’es plèn de rigaudoun. En arriban su la placetta Croumperen toui un cougourdoun Per lou coursage de Babetta,            Ai Cougourdoun, O ben lou “fichu” de Rousetta,            Ai Cougourdoun.		Let’s go up there, on the hill, It’s the feast of Small Gourds. Already is blossoming the hawthorn, The air is full of rigadoons. Arriving on the small square We all buy a small gourd For the blouse of Elizabeth,            At the Small Gourds, Or for the head scarf of Rosette,            At the Small Gourds.
		Chorus
		Que bèu festin, lu Cougourdoun, Doun renaisse la tradicioun. En lu jardin, en lou bouissoun, Es lou festin dei Cougourdoun. (twice)		What a beautiful feast, the Small Gourds, Where is revived the tradition. In the gardens, in the bushes, It’s the feast of Small Gourds.
		2nd verse
		Dòu viei camin fin ai Arena, Qu en tranvai e qu à pen, Dòu pouòrt à la Madalena, Toui vers Cimiès mounton li gen. Lu amourous en li tounela Coumparon lu siéu cougourdoun. La partida es ben plu bella,            Ai Cougourdoun, Coura siès m’una doumaisella,            Ai Cougourdoun.		From the old lane to the amphitheatre (1), One with tram, one on foot, From the harbour and from the Madalena, Everybody, to Cimiez, go up the people. The lovers in the arbours Compare their small gourds. The party is more beautiful,            At the Small Gourds, When you are there with a young lady,            At the Small Gourds.
		3rd verse
		Un bouon papa me la siéu vieia S’en soun mountat dòu viei camin, Per s’en anà fin à la gleia Tout en cuhièn de daissemin. Si rapellon la siéu jouinessa, Aquèu bèu tem dei Cougourdoun Coura Lisoun s’èra proumessa,            Ai Cougourdoun, En lou soulèu que lu caressa,            Ai Cougourdoun.		A good father (2) with his old woman Went (by the) old lane, To go to the church While picking jasmine. They remember their youth, This beautiful time of Small Gourds When Lison promised herself,            At the Small Gourds, With the sun caressing them,            At the Small Gourds.

1. The amphitheatre on the hill of Cimiez.
2. A grandfather.

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