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Fraire Janvié  
(Friar January)
Nissart lyrics by Jouan Nicola, music by Jo Berardy. Traditional from County of Nice.
Drawing published in Anthologie de la chanson niçoise, éd. Delrieu, to illustrate Fraire Janvié. | | 1st verse |
Au tem que li èra lu padre,
Lu bouoi padre de Cimiez,
Vivion dintre d’un cadre
Qu’au mounde rèn n’es parrié.
Semenavon de salada
De mesclun que n’en plas tant ;
La roba revertegada,
Travaiavon en pregan.
Lou mesclun a bèn poussà,
Cadun va lou rabaià. | | In the days when there were the fathers,
The good fathers from Cimiez,
They were living in surroundings
Unrivalled in the world.
They were sowing salad,
Mesclun (1) that is so liked;
The frock hitched up,
They were praying when working.
The mesclun is grown well,
Everyone goes and gather up. |
Chorus |
Fraire Janvié n’en calava la salada,
Fraire Janvié, dai bouoi padre de Cimiez,
Emb’ au panié su la mula arnescada,
Fraire Janvié trotta darrié. | | Friar January was bringing down the salad,
Friar January, of the good fathers from Cimiez,
With the basket on the harnessed mule,
Friar January is trotting behind. |
2nd verse |
S’en calava vers la villa
En passèn dòu viei camin
Sensa si faire de bila
E bèuguèn un còu de vin.
Lou paisan dounava l’oli,
Lou mounier un pòu de gran,
Embé doui paraula droli
Fahia rire maire-gran !
Fa qu’embé lou siéu mesclun
N’en countentava cadun. | | He was going down to the town
Passing through the old lane
Without worrying
And having a wine drink.
The farmer was giving the [olive] oil,
The miller a bit of wheat,
With two funny words
He made grandmother laugh!
[So] with his mesclun
He was satisfying everybody. |
3rd verse |
Un jou, lou nouostre bouon fraire,
Su lou camin dòu retour,
Rescountrèt doui calignaire
Que si parlavon d’amour.
Lou bousin de li baieta
Lou faguèron revirà
E, recounouissèn Liseta,
La faguèt lèu maridà
En li diguènt : « Lou mesclun
Pòu faire mau à quauqun. » | | One day, our good friar,
On the way back,
Met two lovers
Speaking about love.
Noise of the kisses
Made him turn round
And, recognizing Liza,
Made her get married
Saying: “The mix (2)
May hurt somebody.” |
1. Mixed green salad, composed of rocket (arugula) and chervil (mandatory), and, according to season, lettuce, oak-leaf, escarole, romaine lettuce, curly endive, Webb lettuce, purslane, spinach sprouts...
2. No more salad mix!
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