Li soun quatre campana
(There are four bells)
Nissart lyrics and music by Georges Delrieu. Traditional from County of Nice.

Georges Delrieu draws here his inspiration from the theme of the clar de Lantousca (knell from Lantosque) to compose the third chorus, and from the one of the tirignoun dai amendié flouris (chime of the almond trees in blossom) for the other choruses.

Watercolour by Gustav Adolf Mossa published in Chansons niçoises (“Songs from Nice”), éd. Delrieu frères, to illustrate Li soun quatre campana.		1st verse
		Li soun quatre campana Damoun, au viei clouquié ; Tre pichouni ’na grana Touti d’aram parrié. Caduna fà la fouola Vehènt lou sacrestan ; Lou clouquié n’en tremouola Dau pèn fin au soubran.		There are four bells Up there, in the old church tower; Three little, one large All of them in bronze similarly. Each one is messing When seeing the sacristan; The steeple is trembling From bottom to top.
		1st chorus
		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Fai bèn de bousin, San Crespin ! Fai lou ramadan, Sacrestan ! Tira fouort ensin, E pi mai ensin, Noun restà en plan, Sacrestan !		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Let do noise, Saint Crispin (1)! Let make a racket, Sacristan! Pull loudly in this way, And then again, Don’t stop, Sacristan!
		2nd verse
		Coura li a maridage, Coura li a batejà, Dapertout au village Si fà que festejà. Li miéu quatre campana Bramoun per lou curat ; Vous fan una matana Que s’aud’ au tron d’enlà !		When there is [a] wedding, When there is [a] baptism, Everywhere in the village It is only feasted. My four bells Shout out for the priest; They make a scene That can be heard far off!
		2nd chorus
		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Pouortas un quartin De bouon vin, E pouortas de pan De paisan, Coufin de raïn, Quauque marenguin Per lou brave sant Capelan !		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Bring a quarter litre Of good wine, And bring bread Of peasant, [A] straw basket of grapes, Some crowns For the nice [and] holy Chaplain!
		3rd verse
		Se lou pahis si ploura D’avé quaucun de mouort, Pourrès li veir’ aloura Si drissà aut e fouort. Li miéu quatre campana Damoun, dau viei clouquié, Li pichouni, la grana Si lagneran parrié.		If the country laments To have someone dead, You may see them at that time Rise high and strong. My four bells Up there, in the old church tower, The [three] little, the large Will moan equally.
		3rd chorus
		Din, dan, din, dan, Es mouort un paisan, Din, dan, din, dan, din, dan, Dalan, din, dan, dalan, Pregan, pregan E si plouran.		Din, dan, din, dan, A peasant is dead, Din, dan, din, dan, din, dan, Dalan, din, dan, dalan, Let’s pray, let’s pray And weep.
		4th verse
		Li miéu quatre campana Damoun, dau viei clouquié, Aluchon la campagna Cuberta d’òulivié. An vist doui calignaire Que semblon ramougnà ; Li campana stan gaire Per elu de cantà :		My four bells Up there, in the old church tower, Ogle the countryside Covered in olive trees. They saw two lovers That seem squabbling; The bells don’t stay very long For them to sing:
		4th chorus
		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Faguèn de bousin Sensa fin ! Es per vous lou cant, Brav’ enfant ! Baià-vous ensin, E pi mai ensin, Noun restas en plan, Sacripan !		Di li, di li, din, din, din, din, Di lin, di lin, dan, dan, dan, dan, Let’s make some noise Never-ending! It’s for you the sound, Nice children! Let kiss you in this way, And then again, Don’t stop, Scoundrels!

1. Saints Crispin and Crispinian are the Christian patron saints of cobblers, curriers, tanners, and leather workers.

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