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Micoulau noste pastre   , (bis) , (ter)
(Nicholas, our shepherd)
Lyrics and music by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Nicolas va voir Jeanne.
Nicolas Saboly has proposed three musical versions for this Christmas carol, published on 1668 in the 1st book. It appears with number 3 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
Micoulau noste pastre,
Aquéu gros palot,
Vai countempla leis astre
Coume fan leis astrolò.
Tu parles bèn rau, Micoulau !
Lou seren t’aura fa mau. | | Nicholas, our shepherd,
This great pale man,
Goes and contemplates the stars
As do the astrologers.
You speak quite hoarse, Nicholas!
The clear evening will harmed you. |
2nd verse |
Vese uno troupo d’ange
Que sèmblon d’aucèu,
Que canton lei louange
D’un pichot enfant tan bèu !
Rèn noun te fai gau, Micoulau,
Fau bèn que siegues malaut. | | He is seeing a band of angels
Looking like birds,
Singing praises
Of a small child so beautiful!
Nothing gives you joy, Nicholas,
May be you are sick. |
3rd verse |
Dison que Nostre-Segne
Nous mando soun Fiéu ;
Devèn pas plus rèn cregne :
Sian lei bèn-ama de Diéu.
Eiçò vai pas mau, Micoulau.
Lèvo-te, sies plus malaut. | | They are saying our Lord
Is sending us his Son;
We don’t have to be afraid of anything:
We are the beloved of God.
It’s not going wrong, Nicholas,
Get up, you are no more sick. |
4th verse |
Pastre, se vous sias sage,
Doublarés lou pas
Pèr ana rendre òumage
Au pichot qu’es dins lou jas.
Laisso lou bestiau, Micoulau,
E davalo dòu coutau. | | Shepherds, if you are wise,
You will quicken your pace
To go and pay homage
To the little boy in the cowshed.
Leave your livestock, Nicholas
And hurtle down the hillside. |
5th verse |
Aquesto nuech es bruno,
Lou tèms es bèn sour ;
Veirés pas rèn la luno
Que noun siegue quasi jour :
Porto lou fanau, Micoulau,
Que degun noun prengue mau. | | This night is dusk,
Weather is overcast;
You won’t see the moon
[Before] it’s quasi-day:
Bring the lantern, Nicholas,
[In order to] nobody be harmed. |
6th verse |
Pourtas vòstei flassado
E vòstei caban,
Car fai uno jalado
Que fara boufa lei man.
Pren toun gros jargau, Micoulau,
Fai mai de fre que de caud. | | Wear your woollen blanket
And your coat (1),
Because it’s freezing
And hands will puff out.
Take your coarse clothes (2), Nicholas,
Weather is colder than warm. |
7th verse |
Quau pren soin de sa vido,
Perd jamai soun tèm ;
La biasso bèn garnido
Fai ana l’ome countènt :
Porto toun barrau, Micoulau,
Emé toun gros calendau. | | It’s necessary to take care of our life,
Not to waste our time;
The well-stocked lunchbag
Makes the man going happy:
Bring your barrel (3), Nicholas,
With your large bread (4). |
8th verse |
Aquéstei bònei fèsto,
Counfessas-vous bèn,
Sèns vous metre à la tèsto
Leis afaire d’aquest tèm :
Vague bèn o mau, Micoulau,
Tòuto pagara la sau ! | | At this good feast,
Make properly confession,
Without getting into your head
The scandals of the time:
Either it’s going well or wrong, Nicholas,
Taxes will be payed by salt (5). |
1. Caban, winter coat of strong woollen cloth, fitted with a hood.
2. Jargau, clothes made of rough canvas.
3. Barrau, small carrying barrel, with a neck, in which the travelling shepherds were bringing the wine.
4. Calendau (from Calèndo, Christmas), large bread that was on Christmas table. The first piece was given to a poor man.
5. Tòuto pagara la sau, salt will pay taxes.
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