Avèm un bèu castèu
This song comes from the French song, Ah ! Mon beau château !
Avèm un bèu castèu
We Have a Fine Castle
Circle Game
Circle Game
(Occitan)
(English)
Avèm un bèu castèu,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Avèm un bèu castèu,
La tan lira, lira, bèu.
Lo nòstre es ben plus bèu,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Lo nòstre es ben plus bèu,
La tan lira, lira, bèu.
Vos lo desmolirem,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Vos lo desmolirem,
La tan lira, lira, bèn.
Qual serà lo maçon?
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Qual serà lo maçon?
La tan lira, lira, bon.
(Nom) es son nom,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
(Nom) es son nom,
La tan lira, lira, bon.
We have a beautiful castle,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
We have a beautiful castle,
La tan lira, lira, well.
Ours is much more beautiful,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Ours is much more beautiful,
La tan lira, lira, full.
We'll knock it down,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
We'll knock it down,
La tan lira, lira, town.
Who will be the mason?
La tan lira, lira, lira,
Who will be the mason?
La tan lira, lira, done.
(Name*) is his (her) name,
La tan lira, lira, lira,
(Name*) is his (her) name,
La tan lira, lira, game.
Notes
*Add child's name.
The last word of each verse in English is only for the rhyme. It's not a direct translation.
This song was collected by Damase Arbaud (1814-1876) in the mid 1800's. It uses the tune that the French version of the song was originally sung to, which is different from how it's sung in French today.
