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Lou Vièi Defici  
(The Old Watermill)
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 Lou Vièi Defici. | | 1st verse |
Un bèu pichoun defici
Bèn vièi, ben vièi e cairounat,
Moulina, n’es delici,
Un dous refrèn dai tèmp passat.
Una aiga fresca, clara,
Lou fà grignà sera, matin.
Lou defici, magara,
Farà de jara d’oli fin. | | A beautiful and small watermill
Very old, very old and full of woodworm,
Reels off, it’s delicious,
A sweet chorus from the old days.
A fresh and clear water
Makes it creak evening, morning.
The watermill, may be,
Will make jars of fine [olive] oil. |
Chorus |
Vira, vira, vira, vira, vira,
Roda dòu defici,
Dòu vièi defici.
Vira, vira, vira, vira, vira,
Roda dòu defici,
Vira toujour ! | | Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn,
Wheel of the watermill,
Of the old watermill.
Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn,
Wheel of the watermill,
Turn always! |
2nd verse |
Au mitan d’amarina,
De flou e d’òulivié d’argent,
Souta la souloumbrina,
Un jour ai rescountrat Vincent.
Au defici venìa
Pourtà d’òuliva a esquissà ;
M’a trovà bella fiha,
D’incant m’a vourgut calignà ! | | Among willows (1),
Flowers and olive trees,
In the dark,
One day I met Vincent.
To the mill he came
To bring olives to squeeze;
He found me pretty girl,
By fascination he wanted to court me. |
3rd verse |
M’au remoun de la roda
Degun, jamai, noun a audit
La baieta mignota
Qu’aicì, aicì ai bèn senti.
Souvent moun calignaire
M’a di : « Bella, vous aimerai,
Cresè-lou proun o gaire,
Tant que l’aiga farà cascai. » | | With row of the millwheel
Nobody, never, has heard
The sweet kiss
That here, here I’ve well felt.
Often my lover
Said me: “Pretty girl, I’ll love you,
Trust it more or less,
As long as water will do [its] lapping.” |
4th verse |
Lou jouve si gaussava :
Aicì noun ès mai revengut.
Doun l’aiga serpejava :
Plus rèn ! Lou defici ès mut !
Una pichouna fiha
Si crès lu couor parrié au siéu ;
L’amour souvent esquiha,
Ailas ! couma squiha lou riéu ! | | The youngster was jesting:
Here he never came again.
Where the water was snaking:
Nothing left! The watermill is mute!
A little girl
Thinks hearts are alike her;
Love often slides,
Alas! as slides the brook. |
Last chorus |
Vira, vira, vira, vira, vira,
Roda dòu defici,
Dòu vièi defici.
Vira, vira, vira, vira, vira,
Roda dòu defici,
Noun vira plus ! | | Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn,
Wheel of the watermill,
Of the old watermill.
Turn, turn, turn, turn, turn,
Wheel of the watermill,
No more turn! |
1. Willow : saure, goura ; amarina : female willow, or willow with pistiled flowers (from amerina, osier).
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© 2001-2025 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.
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