La Pesca
(The Fishing)
Nissart lyrics by Eugène Emanuel. Traditional from County of Nice.

The French original lyrics by René d’Helbingue are not reproduced here. The text given corresponds to the literal translation from the version in Nissart.

Dedication to Mr J.-B. Sarrato.

Drawing by Gustav Adolf Mossa published in Chansons niçoises (“Songs from Nice”), éd. Delrieu frères, to illustrate La Pesca.		Chorus
		Tra, la, ra ! que temp proupici Per la festa de deman. Tra, la, ra ! que temp proupici, Vitou en barca e rama en man ! Vitou en barc’ à Sant’ Ouspici, À Bèuluec, à San-Jouan. Vitou en barc’ à Sant’ Ouspici, À Bèuluec, à San-Jouan.		Tra, la, ra! what a propitious weather For the feast tomorrow. Tra, la, ra! what a propitious weather, Quick! in the [small fishing] boat and oars in the hands! Quick! in the boat at Saint-Hospice, At Beaulieu, at Saint-Jean. Quick! in the boat at Saint-Hospice, At Beaulieu, at Saint-Jean.
		1st verse
		N’en veirès proun à la pesca, Toui en pèn de gran matin. Aurèn broumech e bouon’ esca, Nansa, lensa e boulentin. En li roca, emb’un viei sabre, Anerèn refestounant, Emplisserèn lu salabre De coufin de ligouban (twice).		You will see a lot at the fishing, All up early in the morning. We will have good baits (1), Creels and fishing lines (2). In the rocks, with an old sabre, We will go digging, We will fill the landing nets With baskets of shrimps (twice).
		2nd verse
		Aurèn, sensa tròu de pena, Sargou, blada a proufusioun, De rascassa, de mourèna, De lingousta, de capoun. Au mitan de la journada S’occuperèn dòu dinà ; Lou bouon pei, ô cambarada, Lou cau saupre couhinà (twice).		We will have, without too much difficulty, Sargou, blada (3) in plenty, Scorpion fishes, moray eels, Crayfishes, scorpenes. In the middle of the day We will take care of the dinner; The good fish, oh! comrade, You have to learn to cook it (twice).
		3rd verse
		Pihas toumati, verdura, Ceba, pebre, sau, aiet, D’oli fin mette-n’en pura E vous lequerès lu det. Placerèn la casserola Su doui codou en un cantoun, Souorte un òudou que counsouola Dau rustique fugairoun (twice).		Take tomatoes, greenery (4), Onions, pepper, salt, garlic, Fine oil put however And you will lick your fingers. We will place the saucepan On two pebbles in a corner, A smell is coming out that consoles For the rustic hearth (twice).
		4th verse
		L’oste de Peirafourniga N’espedisse lou bouon vin, Sente de luen la pratiga Qu’esquilassa en lou camin. Assetat en una faissa, Avèn l’erba per taulié E manjan la bouiabaissa À l’oumbra dai caroubié (twice).		The host from “Stone-Ant” Sends us the good wine, He feels from a distance the custom Shouting (5) in the lane. Seated on a terrace, We have the grass as a table And we eat the fish soup In the shade of the carob trees (twice).
		5th verse
		Tant lèu que de la serada S’allumon lu premié fuec, Un’allegra retirada Mette fin ai nouostre juec. Bei plesi ! belli partida, Inoucent amusamèn, Venès egaià la vida Mai d’un còu e per lountemp (twice).		As soon as in the evening Come on the first lights, A jaunty retreat Puts an end to our plays. Fine pleasures! lovely parties, Innocent amusements, Come and cheer up the life More than once and for a long time (twice).

1. Broumech: bait thrown in a jumble to the water to lure fishes; esca: bait hanged on the hook.
2. Lensa (or lença) and boulentin are two synonyms for fishing lines.
3. Sargou, blada are local names of Mediterranean fishes.
4. The verdura includes the green condiments: basil, chervil, chive, parsley, etc.
5. Esquilassà: to cry out in joy in a falsetto voice.

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