lyrics Se canto (If it sings) or Se canta - Traditional from Occitany

D’argent à une aigle de gueules, au vol abaissé, membrée, becquée et couronnée d’or, empiétant une montagne de trois coupeaux de sable issant d’une mer d’azur mouvant de la pointe et ondée d’argent.


	Traditional music from County of Nice (France)


You are here: Home > MIDI music! > The Occitany > lyrics Se canto (If it sings) or Se canta.	Sunday June 1st 2025

Se canto
or Se canta (If it sings)
Traditional from Occitany.

Se canto is a very old popular song, known all over Occitania, traditionally attributed to Gaston III Fébus (Count of Foix, and Viscount of Bearn, 1331-1391). Se canto is an important part of Occitan culture, most Occitan people identify with it. As such this song is often been regarded as the unofficial anthem ⁽¹⁾ of all Occitania, most people living in that region know the Occitan lyrics (at least the first verse and chorus), even if they are not native Occitan speakers themselves.

Se canto has an official status in Aran Valley (autonomous Occitan territory, in Spain) with the title Aqueras Montanhas.

1^st verse
Se canto, que canto, Canto pas per iéu, Canto per ma mio Qu’es aluen de iéu.		If it sings, let it sing It’s not singing for me It sings for my love Who’s far away from me.
2^nd verse
E souto ma fenestro I a un auceloun, Touto la nuech canto, Canto sa cansoun.		And outside my window There is a little bird, Singing all night, Singing its song.
Chorus (First verse may serve as chorus.)
3^rd verse
A la fouònt de Nime I a un amandié Que fa de flour blanco Coume de papié.		At the fountain of Nîmes There is an almond tree Who produces flowers as white As paper.
4^th verse
Aquelei mountagno, Que tant auto soun, M’empachon de vèire Meis amour ounte soun.		Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love is gone.
5^th verse
Bassas-vous mountagno, Plano aussas-vous, Per que pouosqui vèire Meis amour ounte soun.		Lay down, o mountains, And rise up, o plains, So I may see Where my love is gone.
6^th verse
Aquelei mountagno, Tant s’abaissaran Que meis amoureto Apareisseran.		Those mountains Will lay down so low That my lost love Will get closer.

1. See also Coupo santo and Nissa la bella.

Discography
•	La Belugada, Cants de Provensa e dòu païs Nissart, volume 2.
•	Corou de Berra, Chants folkloriques de la Côte d’Azur du mois d’août à nos jours, volume 4.
•	Flour de Rose, Chants et musiques de Provence à travers les siècles.

See also The movies.

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