Li Castagna
(The Chestnuts)
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 Li Castagna.		1st verse
		Cuhiès a tai la frucha Dai espès castagnié, L’atroverrias destrucha Venguessias tròu tardié. À Santa-Catarina Lou miéu paigran diguèt : « Castagna fan farina, Fiha pou fà dejèt. »		Pick just in time the fruit Of the thick chestnut trees, You would find it destroyed If you came late. At Catherine’s Day (1) My grandfather was saying: “Chestnuts make flour, Girl may make scrap.”
		Chorus
		Fès cueire de castagna Per festejà l’autoun ; Pourta n’en de cavagna N’en cau un gros mouloun. Boulegas la sartàia, De fenoui au pairòu, De gotou sus la touàia M’un tomou de vin nòu.		Cook chestnuts To celebrate (2) the autumn; Bring [full] baskets, It’s needed a big heap. Shake the frying pan, [Put] fennel in the cauldron, Glasses on the tablecloth With a bottle (3) of new wine.
		2nd verse
		Una fiha      Bella, magara laida,      Caduna a soun courpet.      L’airis vous crida : « Gàida ! »      Se li mandas lu det.      Se, per cas, calignaire      Afougat siès vengut,      Avesina-vous gaire :      Se tocas, siès pougnut !		A girl      Pretty, may be ugly,      Every girl has her small sin (4).      The bur shouts you: “Careful!”      If you send it your fingers;      If, by accident, [as a] lover      Absent-minded (5) you came,      Don’t be close:      If you touch, you get pricked!
		3rd verse
		Un vièi      De fouora la castagna      Pouorta lusènt mantéu ;      Mai d’un còu la magagna      Duèrme souta la pèu.      Un jouve aima ’na fiha,      Li plas, a bèn rasoun.      Ma coura la si piha,      Ientra ’n diau à maioun.		An old man      Outside, the chestnut      Wears a glistening coat;      More than once the damage      Sleeps under the skin.      A young man loves a girl,      She pleases him, he is absolutely right.      But when he takes her (6),      A devil enters the house.
		4th verse
		Un ome      De castagna – s’en trova ! –      Si laisson rèn cuhi ;      Dòu bastoun fès la prova      E li pourrès durbì.      Se la frema es testeta,      Se vòu menà maioun,      S’un jour lou tron vous peta :      Pihas lou balandroun !		A man      Some chestnuts – they can be found! –      Don’t let them be picked;      Try the stick      And you will can open them.      If the wife is stubborn,      If she wants to manage the house,      If a day the thunder explodes:      Take the “making dance stick (7)”!

1. On November the 25th.
2. Festejà = to feast.
3. One tòmou = three litres, cf. La Miéu Bella Nissa.
4. From courpa = to beat one’s breast, misdeed, sin.
5. Afougà = to suffocate, to drown.
6. He takes her as his wife.
7. From balandrin, idle, and balandrinà, to be with nothing to do.

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