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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.
Bibliography | • | Delrieu (Georges), Anthologie de la chanson niçoise (Anthology of the Song from Nice), Nice, publisher Delrieu & Co, 1960, p. 70-71. | • | Tosan (Albert), Princivalle (Gaël) and d’Hulster (Frédéric), Anthologie de la chanson du comté de Nice (Anthology of the Song from County of Nice), Nice, Serre publisher, series “Encyclopædia niciensis – Patrimoine régional”, volume III, 2001, p. 82-83. |
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