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Nouvè  
(Christmas carol)
Lyrics by Laurent Gaglio, music by Pellini. Traditional from County of Nice.
This text was rewarded on 1926 at poetry contest, section “Christmas carol”, organized by Acadèmia nissarda.
| 1st verse |
Sus la tuaia leu netta,
La nouvella claretta
Espousca li beguetta
E cadun fa cin-cin.
Ma fuora la campana,
Lou sieu tintin degrana.
D’ai palai, d’ai cabana,
Aresta lou festin.
Nouvè, nouvè, nouvè. | | On the tablecloth quickly clean,
The new light sparkling wine
Splashes the ...
And each one makes cheers!
But outside, the bell;
Its tinkling marks out.
In palaces, in cabins,
Stops the feast.
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. |
2nd verse |
La nueç es estellada,
L’aria n’es perfumada.
Li gen sus la levada
S’asperou ’n tra vesin...
E toui per la capella
S’en partou’n ribambella...
La prioulessa es bella
Mé la pouncia ’n satin.
Nouvè, nouvè, nouvè. | | The night is starry,
The air is sweet-smelling.
People on the [edge of the] plateau
Are waiting among neighbours...
And all, to the chapel,
Set them out in a swarm...
The prioress is nice
With her satin scarf.
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. |
3rd verse |
Jésus sus sa coucetta
Faccia d’un poù d’erbetta
Gieuga ’mbé la saùmetta
Che voù lou rescaùffà...
D’ai sieù bras benedisse...
De buonur esternisse...
Lou pagan counvertisse.
Aù pen doù Sant-Aùtà.
Nouvè, nouvè, nouvè. | | Jesus on his berth
Made of a bit of small grass
Is playinf with the she-ass
That wants to warm him...
With his arms he blesses...
Because of happiness he sneezes...
The heathens he converts
At bottom of holy altar.
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. |
4th verse |
Lou pastre, la pastressa...
Lou paisan, la prinsessa...
Escoutoun toui la messa
Embé recuiament...
Ma dégià, lou rimaire
Ch’estan es buon blagaire
Noun s’embarassa gaire
Per fà de coumpliment.
Nouvè, nouvè, nouvè. | | The shepherd, the shepherdess...
The peasant, the princess...
All listen the mass
Reverently...
But already, the rhymer (1)
Who this year is good joker
Don’t really troubles himself
To pay compliments.
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. |
5th verse |
Nouvè, doussa serada,
Esper de nuova anada,
Presepi e ciamada,
Neù e roumascounieù...
Nouvè es l’allegria
Car la Vierge Maria
Puorta ’n cada famia
La naissensa d’un Dieù.
Nouvè, nouvè, nouvè. | | Christmas, sweet evening,
Hope of a new year,
Crib and dawn serenade,
Snow and asparagus (2)...
Christmas is the elation
Because the Virgin Mary
Brings in each family
The birth of a God.
Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. |
1. Rimaire: rhymer who improvises versified compliments at the chamada or the ouferta.
2. Roumascounieù: (from Provençal ramo-couniou) wild asparagus.
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