| |
San Jóusé m’a di  
(Saint Joseph said to me)
Lyrics by Nicolas Saboly, known as Micoulau Sabòli. Traditional from Provence.
Tune Noste paure cat (Our poor cat).
This Christmas carol has been published on 1671 in the 5th book. It appears with number 35 in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
| 1st verse |
San Jóusé m’a di
Pren te gardo, pren te gardo!
San Jóusé m’a di
Pren te gardo pèr eici!
Quand jalo, quand nèvo, lei maridei gènt
Soun pèr orto d’aqéu tèm. | | Saint Joseph said to me
Watch out, watch out!
Saint Joseph said to me
Watch out around here!
When it’s freezing, when it’s snowing, bad people
Are in the gardens (1) by this weather. |
2nd verse |
M’a mes quantecant
L’alabardo, l’alabardo,
M’a mes quantecant
L’alabardo entre lei man:
Qui marche? Qui vive? Vese très voulur!
Qui va là? (2) Sian pas segur! | | He put at once
The halberd, the halberd,
He put at once
The halberd in my hands:
Who walks? Who lives? It’s seen three thieves!
Who goes there? We are not sure! |
3rd verse |
Leis ai vist de près
Qu’an de mourre, qu’an de mourre!
Leis ai vist de près
Qu’an de mourre de travès,
De pato, de grifo, coume noste cat,
E de co coume de rat! | | I’ve seen them closely
How they get noses, how they get noses!
I’ve seen them closely
How they get crooked noses,
Paws, claws, as gets our cat,
And sinciputs (3) as get rats! |
4th verse |
Vilèn Belzebut,
Qu’as de bano, qu’as de bano,
Vilèn Belzebut,
Qu’as de bano sus lou su,
Que rodes? Que cerques? Ci lia rèn de tiéu.
Sian tous deis enfant de Diéu! | | Ugly Belzébuth,
Who gets horns, who gets horns,
Ugly Belzébuth,
Who gets horns on his head (4),
Why are you loitering? What are you looking for? Here there is nothing yours.
We all all God’s children! |
5th verse |
Traite Lucifèr,
Perqué sortes, perqué sortes,
Traite Lucifèr,
Perqué sortes de l’infèr?
La casso, la pesco valon rèn pèr tu,
Aro que Diéu es vengu. | | Traitorous Lucifer (5),
Why do you go out, why do you go out,
Traitorous Lucifer,
Why do you go out Hell?
Hunting, fishing are worthlessness for you,
Now that God came. |
6th verse |
Malurous Satan,
Qu’as leis alo, qu’as leis alo,
Malurous Satan,
Qu’as leis alo d’un tavan.
Que dises? Que groundes? Fasses pas lou fin!
Toun Mèstre es aqui dedin. | | Unfortunate Satan,
Who gets wings, who gets wings,
Unfortunate Satan,
Who gets wings of a horsefly.
What do you say? What do you roar? Don’t make crafty!
Your Master is here inside (6). |
7th verse |
Bel ange Michèu,
Sourtès vite, sourtès vite,
Bel ange Michèu,
Sourtès vite, venès lèu.
Lei diable barrulon à l’entour dóu jas,
Mandas-lèi au païs bas. | | Nice angel Michael,
Come out quickly, come out quickly,
Nice angel Michael,
Come out quickly, come on swiftly.
The devils are wandering (7) around the sheepfold,
Send-them to lower country (8). |
1. Soun pèr orto: in the literal, means “are in the gardens”, i.e. wander in the fields, in the country.
2. In French in the Fr. Seguin’s new edition.
3. Co: sinciput (from Latin semi, half, and caput, head): crown of the head.
4. Su: same co.
5. Lucifèr: in the literal, means “light bearer”. An another name for Satan, deprived after his revolt against God.
6. Allusion to the crib in which is laying the baby Jesus.
7. Barrula or barroula: going here and there, i.e. to wander , to roam.
8. Lou païs bas: (the lower country), i.e. Hell.
| Bibliography | | • | Saboly (Nicolas), Noés nouveous de l’an M. DC. LXXI. (New Christmas carols for the year 1671), Michel Chastel printer of His Holiness, Avignon, 1671, p. 7-8. | | • | Saboly (Nicolas), Recueil des noëls composés en langue provençale (Collection of Christmas carols composed in Provençal language), reprint Fr. Seguin, printer and bookseller, Avignon, 1856, p. 43. |
Back music page - Top
© 2001-2026 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.
|
