Tenda, Briga à la Fransa
(Tende, La Brigue back to France)
Nissart lyrics by Jouan Nicola, music by François Mattei. Traditional from County of Nice.

The French original lyrics by Jacques Barjac are not reproduced here. The text given corresponds to the literal translation from the version in Nissart.

After the annexation in 1860, some districts from the North-West of the County, among which Tende and La Brigue, were kept by the young Italy. This song relates the difficulties encountered by their inhabitants to obtain the reintegration to the County, became French.

The commemorative plate unveiled by Aimable Gastaud, mayor of La Brigue and Tende, on September 16th, 1947.		1st verse
		Gardavas l’esperansa Despì de l’annessioun En l’amour de la Fransa De faire vouastr’ unioun. En li vouastri mountagna, O fraire doù comtat, Couma en li campagna Avès sempr’ esperat.		You kept the hope Since the annexation In the love from France To do your union. In your mountains, O brothers from the County, As well as in the country You always hoped.
		Chorus
		Tendasque, Brigasque, Si dounan toui la man. La Fransa s’avansa Car siès lu siéu enfant ! E Nissa si drissa, Vou duerben lou siéu couar. Sien fraire, sien fraire En acheù giou d’espoir.		People from Tende, people from La Brigue, We hold hand each other. The France is moving forward As you are its children! And Nice is raising, Opening its heart to you. We are brothers, we are brothers In this day of hope.
		2nd verse
		Coura, en jun quaranta, L’afrous cóu de poignard A la Fransa mouranta Levava tout espoir, Aloura avès jurat Qu’un giou retournerès M’au fraire doù comtat Per estre mai francès.		When, on June 1940, The ghastly stab To the dying France Removed any hope, So you swore A day you will go back With brothers from the County To be French again.
		3rd verse
		Maugra la tiranìa D’un regime odious, Aimavas la patria Doun lou noum v’èra dous. Sus li plus auti cima Lu pastre an cantat Per que vengue, sublima, L’oura de libertà.		In spite of the tyranny Of an appalling government, You loved the homeland The name of which was sweet. On the highest summits The shepherds sung In order that come, sublime, The hour of liberty.
		4th verse
		Damoun, lu vouòstre paire Qu’an voutat l’annessioun Per que siguen toui fraire Auran satisfassioun. Que naisse mai l’espiga Doun li èra lu canoun, Car Tenda e la Briga De Fransa an lou noum.		Up there, your fathers That voted the annexation So that we all become brothers Will get satisfaction. Will the ear be born again Where were the cannons, As Tende and La Brigue From France get the name.

See also The movies.

Back music page - Top

© 2001-2018 Jean-Gabriel Maurandi.