This is an old traditional Occitan song. We've included two versions of it below.

Some sources believe the wolf, the fox and the hare (or weasel) in this song represented the King, Lord and Church, all authorities who collected taxes - leaving nothing for the peasants.…

Notes

Alternate Version

Ai vist lo lop, la lèbre e lo rainard dançar (x2)
Fasián lo torn del aubre e del boisson folhat* (x2)
Triman tota l'annada per ganhar quauquei sòus
E dins una mesada, nos fotèm tot pel cuol (x2).

Translation

I saw the wolf, the hare and the fox dance (x2)
They were circling round the tree and the sprouting bush (x2)
We slave away all the year round to earn a few coins
And in a month's time there's nothing left (x2).

*Variant:Fasián lo torn del aubre sens jamai s'atrapar (They were circling round the tree and could never catch one another).

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There's a French version of this song called "J'ai vu le loup, le renard et la belette", "I Saw the Wolf, the Fox and the Weasel".

Listen

Below you can hear Monique sing two versions of the song. The first tune is a dancing melody from the 14th century Gregorian chant Dies Irae, the second tune is a bourrée from Auvergne. There's a slight pause in between each version…

Download

Many thanks to Monique Palomares for singing this song for us!

Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing and translating this song, the score, the midi and the mp3 music.

Mercé plan!