Lo mossi
This song is in the Provençal dialect.
All verses follow the same pattern at the 1st verse. The first line is repeated. Then the 2nd line is repeated, 1st with "fa lalireta" at the end and then with "fa lalirà" at the end.
Lo mossi
The Apprentice Sailor
Sea Shanty
Sea Shanty
(Occitan)
(English)
1. Son tres vaissèus dedins Marselha
Son tres vaissèus dedins Marselha
Que van partir pèr Portugal liron fa lalireta
Que van partir pèr Portugal liron fa lalirà.
2. N'an bèn restat sèt ans sus l'aiga
Sense terra posqu'abordar.
3. Quand li a sèt ans que son sus l'aiga
Lo pan, lo vin, tot a mancat.
4. N'an tirat a la corta palha
Quau serà lo primier manjat.
5. Lo mèstre qu'a partit lei palhas
Se la pus corta li a restat.
6. Quau n'en es aqueu valènt mossi
Que la vida me vòu sauvar.
7. Li doni una de mei tres filhas
Eme un vaissèu subredaurat.
8. Ne'n serà ieu, mon capitani,
Que la vida vos vau sauvar.
9. Ah! monta, monta, valènt mossi,
Monta a la poma dau gran mast.
10. Quand lo mossi es sus lei crosetas,
Lo paure se met a plorar.
11. Ai ! de qué ploras, valènt mossi.
Veses pas quauque pòrt de mar.
12. Ieu vese que lo cèu e l'aiga
Eme las ondas de la mar.
13. Ai ! monta, monta, valènt mossi,
Un pauc plus aut te fau montar.
14. Quand lo mossi n'es sus la poma,
Lo mossi se met a cantar.
15. Ah ! de qué cantas, valènt mossi?
Veses pas quauque pòrt de mar?
16. Vese Tolon, vese Marselha,
Nòstra-Dòna de la Ciutat.
17. Vese tres joinei damaiselas
Que promenan lòng de la mar.
18. Ah ! canta, canta, valènt mossi,
Ara n'as bèn de qué cantar!
19. As ganhat 'na polida filha
Eme un vaissèu subredaurat.
20. Ai ganhat 'na polida filha
Mai ai riscat d'èstre manjat!
1. They are three ships in Marseilles
There are three ships in Marseilles
About to leave for Portugal liron fa lalireta*
About to leave for Portugal liron fa lalira*.
2. They stayed seven years on the water
Without being able to reach land.
3. When they were on the water for seven years
Bread, wine, all was missing.
4. They drew straws
Who would be the first to be eaten.
5. The master cut the straws
The shortest one was left to him.
6. Who's the valiant apprentice
Who wants to save my life?
7. I'll give him one of my three daughters
With a double-gilded ship.
8. I'll be the one, my captain,
Who will save your life.
9. Ah! Climb up, climb up, valiant ship boy,
Climb up to the main-truck**.
10. Once the ship boy is on the crosstrees,
The poor boy started to cry.
11. Ah! Why are you crying, valiant ship boy?
Don't you see any sea port?
12. I see only sky and water
With the sea waves.
13. Ah! Climb up, climb up, valiant ship boy,
A little higher you must climb.
14. When the ship boy is on the truck,
The ship boy starts to sing.
15. Ah! Why are you singing, valiant ship boy?
Don't you see any sea port?
16. I see Toulon, I see Marseilles,
Our Lady of La Ciotat.
17. I see three young maidens
Who are strolling along the sea.
18. Ah! Sing, sing, valiant ship boy!
Now you have something to sing for!
19. You've earned a pretty girl
With a double-gilded ship.
20. I've earned a pretty girl
But I risked being eaten!
Notes
*Pronunciation: "Lee-roo fah lah-ree-reh-toh / lee-roo fah lah-ree-rah"
**Main-truck: It's on the mainmast, a circular disc (or sometimes a rectangle) of wood near/at the top of the mast, usually with holes or sheaves to reeve signal halyards; also a temporary or emergency place for a lookout. (edited from Wikipedia).
Thanks!
