Lou Festin dai rangou
(The Feast of the lame men)
Nissart lyrics and music by Louis Genari. Traditional from County of Nice.

Drawing by Gustav Adolf Mossa published in Anthologie de la chanson niçoise, éd. Delrieu, to illustrate Lou Festin dai rangou.
1st verse
A Nissa li a un pichoun festin E li gent noun li mancon Per que, couma es aqui vesin, Li van meme lu rangou, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, E cadun lu pòu vèire, Sigue à riba de mar o sus lou gran camin, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan. S’en van fin à San-Pèire E tant lèu au festin Tant lèu soun en train.		In Nice there is a little feast And people don’t miss there Because, as it is quite near, Go there even the lame men, Limping, Hobbling, And everybody can see them, Either on the sea side or on the great lane, Limping, Hobbling, They are going up to Saint Peter And as soon as [arrived] at the feast Immediately they are under way.
2nd verse
Que gran plesì, ren qu’en intrant, De vè’ li doumaiselli E, couma n’es qu’un còu per an, Si trìon li pu belli, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Si charra e si caligna. Per si fa’ ben voulé, d’amour cau ben parlà, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan. La lenga sensa tigna A lèu fach óublidà La camba que noun va.		What a great pleasure, just coming in, To see young women And, as it is only once a year, Are sorted out (1) the most beautiful, Limping, Hobbling, One speaks, one courts. To be well wanted (2), of love it’s necessary to speak, Limping, Hobbling, The tongue without chilblain (3) Has quickly made forgotten The leg which doesn’t go.
3rd verse
Dau rèsta, se lou remarcas, Doun es la diferènça ? Pouodon balà, pisqu’au siéu pas Fan jà la reverènça ! En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Sirigauda e sautusa, Tambèn polka, masurca acoublon lu galant, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Coustrech à la dansusa. Quoura es lou vals que fan, Parton toui en virant !		And besides, if you notice it, Where is the difference? They can dance, since at their step They already curtsey! Limping, Hobbling, Shivery and leap dance, And also polka, mazurka couple up the gallants, Limping, Hobbling, Packed to the dancer. When it is waltz they do, They all go turning!
4th verse
Per plase e refrescà, dòu còu, Li gènti balarini, Van cercà tout cen que si pòu Dai vendairis vesini. En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Pouorton de limounada, Chaudèu, nougat, fougassa e couliandri dous. En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Offron la cougourdada, Ranfresc delicious Embé l’aiga dòu pous.		To please and refresh, as a result, The kind ballerinas, They go and fetch all what is possible At neighbouring saleswomen. Limping, Hobbling, They bring lemon drink, “Scalded”, nougat, fougasse and raisins (4). Limping, Hobbling, They offer the gourd, Delicious refreshment With water from the well.
5th verse
Pi, quoura toumba lou serèn, Per repiha d’abriva, Souta la laupia de Laurèn S’assèton, gai counviva. En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, (Es l’oste que choupea) Li pouorton pan bagnat, lapin sautat, melet, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Fin la tourta de blea. M’un tòmou de Bellet, Tout esquiha soulet !		Then, when is falling evening, To take again a run up, In the arbour of Lawrence They seat down, happy guests. Limping, Hobbling, (It’s the host who hobbles) It is brought them “wet bread”, sauté of rabbit, omelette, Limping, Hobbling, Up to the pie of Swiss chard. With a bottle (5) of Bellet wine (6), Everything slides by itself!
6th verse
E quoura enfin cau si quità, Au refrèn de Li Verna, Pèndon, per poudé si guidà, Au bastoun la lantèrna. En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Sensa que mai s’abuton, Toui s’en tournon countent, de chaudèu sus lou pièch, En rangueant, Dalin, dalan, Soulet o ben... ma chùtou !... Que quoura es mièja nuech Noun li a de rangou au liech.		And when at least it’s necessary to leave, At chorus of “Feast of the alders”, They hang, to be able to guide themselves, At the stick the lantern. Limping, Hobbling, Without never they push themselves, They all go back glad, “scalded” on their chest (7), Limping, Hobbling, Alone or... but shush!... Because when it’s midnight There is no more lame man in the bed.

1. May be are sorted out, i.e. “people sort out the prettiest”, may be they sort themselves, i.e. “lame men sort out the prettiest for themselves”.
2. To be wanted, to love.
3. Without discomfort, to be very talkative, in opposition to the lame leg.
4. Couliandri, coriander, also designates a variety of grape with elongated grains.
5. See also La Mieu Bella Nissa.
6. See also San-Rouman-de-Belet.
7. I.e. greasy marks on their shirt, unless it is question of food that lies heavy on their stomach...

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