Se Canta

Se Canta (Occitan pronunciation: [se ˈkantɔ]; regional alternative titles: Se Chanta; Aqueras Montanhas) is an anthem associated with Occitania. It is also a very old popular song, known all over Occitania.[1] According to legend, it was written by Gaston III Fébus (1331–1391), Count of Foix and Béarn.[2][3][4]

Se Canta
English: If it Sings
National anthem of  Occitania
Also known asSe Chanta
Aqueras Montanhas, Montanhes Araneses
LyricsGaston III Fébus (attributed)
Adopted2008 (only in Val d'Aran, with the title Montanhes Araneses)
Audio sample
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Since 1993, it has an official status[5] in Aran Valley (a comarca in Catalonia, Spain) with the title Montanhes Araneses. It has been the official anthem of Toulouse FC since August 6, 2010.[6][7]

It is also popular in the High Aragon (Spain) with the name of Aqueras montanyas or Aqueras montañas, sung in Aragonese, with a similar lyrics. It was compiled by the Aragonese group Biella Nuei and later sung, among others, by the singer-songwriter José Antonio Labordeta.

Se Canta is often regarded as the unofficial anthem[8][9] of all Occitania and most people living in that region know the words to the first verse and chorus even if they are not native Occitan speakers themselves.

Notable occasions on which it has been sung include the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin on February 10, 2006[10] (by L'Ange Gardien Chorus[11]), and in the French National Assembly on June 3, 2013 (by Jean Lassalle,[12] in protest at a perceived slight on the Pyrenean village of Urdos by Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy).

Se Canta was commercially covered by a number of singers and bands, among which are Lou Dalfin, Patric, André Dassary, Charé Moulâ, Calabrun (from Germany), Jean-Bernard Plantevin, Coriandre, Tòni de l'Ostal, Biella Nuei (Aragón), Crestian Almergue e lo Grop Tèst, Corrou de Berra and Dorothée.

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song are in the Occitan language. The fourteen extant versions[13] are all transcribed and translated in the following table. On February 9, 2002, the almond tree near the Nîmes fountain that is mentioned in several verses was replanted[14] after its famous predecessor died. Although most texts are linked to the original Febusian poem, not all are: the shepherd and wedding versions, for instance, have different themes despite a common tune. Between brackets are the odd extra verses that can be heard but are not part of the regular lyrics.

Compared lyrics and translations of all known versions
National version English translation Narbonne version English translation Provence version English translation Valadas version English translation
Dejós ma fenèstra,
I a un aucelon
Tota la nuèch canta,
Canta sa cançon.		 Outside my window,
There is a little bird
It sings all night
It sings its song.		 Al fons de la prada,
I a'n pibol traucat:
Lo cocut i canta,
Benlèu i a nisat.		 Across the meadow,
There's a poplar with a hole
Where a cuckoo sings:
It must be nesting there.		 Sota ma fenèstra,
I a un aucelon,
Tota la nuèch canta,
Canta sa cançon.		 Outside my window
There is a little bird
It sings all night,
It sings its song.		 Denant de ma fenèstra,
I a un aucelon,
Tota la nuèch chanta,
Chanta sa chançon.		 Outside my window,
There is a little bird
It sings all night,
It sings its song.
Chorus
Se canta, que cante,
Canta pas per ieu,
Canta per ma mia
Qu'es al luènh de ieu.		 Chorus
If it sings, let it sing,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Chorus
Se canta, que cante,
Canta pas per ieu,
Canta per ma mia,
Qu'es al luènh de ieu.		 Chorus
If it sings, let it sing,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Chorus
Se canta e recanta,
Canta pas per ieu:
Canta per ma mia
Qu'es au luènh de ieu.		 Chorus
If it sings and sings again,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Chorus
Se chanta, que chante,
Chanta pas per ieu,
Chanta per ma mia
Qu'es al luènh de ieu.		 Chorus
If it sings, let it sing,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.
Aquelas montanhas
Que tan nautas son,
M'empachan de veire
Mas amors ont son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where are my love.		 Dejós ma fenèstra,
I a un aucelon,
Tota la nuèit canta,
Canta sa cançon.		 Outside my window,
There is a little bird
Singing all night,
Singing its song.		 Aquelei montanhas
Que tant autas son,
M'empachan de veire
Meis amors ont son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where are my love.		 Aquelas montanhas
Que tant autas son
M'empachan de veire
Mes amors ont son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where are my love.
Baissatz-vos, montanhas,
Planas, levatz-vos,
Per que pòsca veire
Mas amors ont son.		 Lay down, o mountains,
Rise up, o plains,
So I may see
Where are my love.		 Aquelas montanhas,
Que tan nautas son,
M'empachan de veire,
Mas amors ont son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where are my love.		 Autas, ben son autas,
Mai s'abaissaràn,
E meis amoretas
Vèrs ieu revendràn.		 High, they're so high
But they will lay down
And my dear love will come back to me.		 Autas, ben son autas, Ma s'abaissarèn Et mas amoretas vers ieu tornarèn High, they are so high, But they will lay down And my dear love will come back to me.
Aquelas montanhas
Tant s'abaissaràn,
Que mas amoretas
Se raprocharàn.		 Those mountains
Will lay down so low
That my dear love
Will come closer.		 Baissatz-vos, montanhas,
Planas, auçatz-vos,
Per que pòsca veire,
Mas amors ont son.		 Lay down, o mountains,
Rise up, o plains,
So I may see
Where are my love.		 Baissatz-vos, montanhas,
Planas auçatz-vos,
Per que pòsque veire
Meis amors ont son.		 Lay down, o mountains
Rise up, o plains,
So I may see
Where are my love.		 Baissatz-vos montanhas, Planas levatz-vos, Perquè pòsque veire Mes amors ont son Lay down, o mountains, Rise up, o plains,

So I may see Where are my love.

Aquelas montanhas,
Tant s'abaissaràn,
Que mas amoretas,
Se raprocharàn.		 Those mountains
Will lay down so low
That my dear love
Will come closer.		 A la fònt de Nîmes,
I a un ametlièr
Que fa de flors blancas
Au mes de janvièr.		 At the fountain of Nîmes,
There's an almond tree
That puts on white flowers
In the month of January.
S'aquelei flors blancas
Èran d'ametlons,
Culhiriáu d'amètlas
Per ieu e per vos.		 Shall those white flowers
Become green almonds,
I'd pick handfuls of them
For me and for you.
Se canta e recanta,
Canta pas per ieu:
Canta per ma mia
Qu'es auprès de ieu.		 If it sings and sings again,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's come back to me.
Béarn version English translation Lozère version English translation Montpellier version English translation Val d'Aran version English translation
Devath de ma fenèstra,
Qu'i a un auseron,
Tota la nueit canta,
Canta sa cançon.		 Outside my window,
There is a little bird
Singing all night,
Singing its song.		 Dejós ma fenèstra,
I a un auselon,
Tota la nuèit canta,
Canta pas per ieu.		 Outside my window,
There is a little bird:
It sings all night,
It doesn't sing for me.		 A la font de Nimes,
I a un ametlièr
Que fa de flors blancas
Coma lo papièr.		 At the fountain of Nîmes,
There's an almond tree
That puts on flowers
As white as paper.		 Aqueres montanhes
Que tant nautes son,
M'empèishen de véder
Mèns amors an o son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where my love has gone.
Chorus
Se canti, jo que canti,
Canti pas per jo,
Canti per ma mia
Qu'ei a luenh de jo.		 Chorus
If I sing, if I sing myself,
I'm not singing for me,
I'm singing for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Chorus
Se canta, qué canta?
Canta pas per ieu,
Canta per ma mia
Qu'es al luènh de ieu.		 Chorus
If it sings, then what for?
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Chorus
Se canta, que cante,
Canta pas per ieu,
Canta per ma mia
Qu'es al luènh de ieu.
 Chorus
If it sings, let it sing,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's far away from me.		 Nautes, se son nautes,
Ja s'abaisharàn
Es mies amoretes
Que s'aproparàn.		 High, they're so high,
But they will lay down,
And my dear love
Will come closer.
Aqueras mountanhas
Que tan hautas son,
M’empachan de véder
Mas amors on son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where my love has gone.		 Al fonse de l'òrta,
I a un ametlièr
Que fa de flors blancas
Coma de papièr.		 Across the garden,
There's an almond tree
That puts on white flowers
As white as paper.		 Aval dins la plana,
I a'n pibol traucat:
Lo cocut i canta
Quand i va nisar.
 Down in the valley,
There's a poplar with a hole:
The cuckoo sings
When it nests in there.		 Montanhes araneses
A on es pastors
Es hònts regalades
Tròben, e jordons.		 Aran mountains
Where the shepherds
Shooting water springs
Find, and raspberries too.
Baishatz-ve, montanhas,
Planas, hauçatz-ve,
Tà que pòsqui véder
Mas amors on son.		 Lay down, o mountains,
And rise up, o plains,
So I may see
Where my love has gone.		 Aquelas flors blancas
Faràn d’ametlons
Per remplir las pòchas
De ieu e de vos.		 Those white flowers
Will become green almonds
And fill up our pockets,
Both mine and yours.		 Aquelas montanhas
Que tan nautas son,
M'empachan de veire
Mas amors ont son.
 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where my love has gone.		 Se cantes, perqué cantes?
Cantes pas per jo,
Cantes per ma hilha
Que non ei près de jo.		 If you sing, why do you?
You're not singing for me,
You're singing for my girl
Who's not by my side.
Aqueras montanhas
Que s'abaisharàn
E mas amoretas
Que pareisheràn.		 Those mountains
Will lay down
And my dear love
Will appear.		 Aquelas montanhas
Que tan nautas son,
M'empachan de veire
Mas amors ont son.		 Those mountains
That are so high
Keep me from seeing
Where my love has gone.		 Baissatz-vos, montanhas,
Planas, auçatz-vos,
Per que pòsca veire
Ont son mas amors.
 Lay down, o mountains
And rise up, o plains
So I may see
Where my love has gone.		 Montanhes coronades
Tot er an de nhèu,
Tan nautes e bères
Que vos pune eth cèu.		 Mountains crowned
All year long with snow,
So high and beautiful
That the sky kisses you.
Se sabèvi las véder,
On las rencontrar,
Passarí l'aigueta
Shens paur de'm negar.		 If I knew where she is,
Where I can meet her,
I would cross the river,
Fearless of drowning.		 Aquelas montanhas
Se n'abaissaràn
E mas amouretas
Se raprocharàn.		 Those mountains
Will lay down
And my dear love
Will come closer.		 Nautas son, plan nautas,
Mas s'abaissaràn
E mas amoretas
Apareisseràn.
 They're high, so high,
But they will lay down
And my dear love
Will appear.		 Montanhes araneses
Pientades de rius,
De totes grandeses
Vos adorne Diu.		 Aran mountains
Combed with riverlets,
With all majesties
God adorns you.
Las pomas son maduras,
Las cau amassar
E las joenes hilhas,
Las cau maridar.
 The apples are ripe
And ready to be picked
And the young girls
Are ready to get wed.		 (S'èri 'na virondèla
E posquès volar,
Traversariái l'aiga
Per l'anar 'mbraçar.)
 (If I were a sparrow
And I could fly,
I'd cross the river
Just to hug her.)		 Nòsti amors veiguéretz
Com rosèr florir,
Volem com es pares,
Guardant-vos morir.
 Our love you will see
Like a rose bush blossom,
We're flying like birds
As we watch you die.
1st Ardèche version English translation 2nd Ardèche version English translation Shepherd version English translation Wedding version English translation
Dessús la montanha,
Lo solelh totjorn
L'i lèva l'aiganha
Ben abans miègjorn.		 Over the mountain,
The sun always
Dries off the dew
Well before noon.		 Vès Cruàs e vès Meissa,
Nos i van bastir
Una centralassa,
Nos faràn rostir.		 In Cruas and Meysse,
They're going to build
A huge power plant
That will us all.		 Paissètz, mas oelhetas,
Paissètz doçament,
Vos quiti soletas
Per un cort moment.		 Graze, my sheep,
Graze in peace,
I have to leave you
For a short while.		 (Best man)
Quand la prima arriba,
Lo gai rossinhòl,
D'amor per la riba,
Canta coma un fòl.		 (Best man)
When spring comes,
The merry nightingale,
For the love of the river bank,
Sings like never before.
Chorus
Ardecha, Ardecha,
Qu'es nòstre país;
S'as pas vist Ardecha,
As jamai ren vist.		 Chorus
Ardèche, Ardèche,
This is our country;
Who never saw Ardèche
Has never seen anything.		 Chorus
Ardecha, Ardecha,
Marvilhós país;
S'as pas vist Ardecha,
As jamai ren vist.		 Chorus
Ardèche, Ardèche,
My wonderful country;
Who never saw Ardèche
Has never seen anything.		 La pastoreleta
Que ieu vau trobar,
S'anuja soleta
Jos d'aquel albar.		 The nice little shepherdess
That I'm going to meet
Is getting bored
Under that white poplar.		 Chorus
Se canta, que cante,
Canta pas per ieu,
(Guys) Ni mai per ma mia!
(Girls) Ni mon fringaire!
(All) Qual sap ont l'ai ieu!		 Chorus
If it sings and sings again,
It's not singing for me,
(Guys) Neither for my love!'
(Girls) Nor for my lover!
(All) Who knows where they're now!
Volana mai Ardecha,
Ovesa sustot,
Se n'es pas tròp secha,
Fai lo serpaton.		 The Volane and the Ardèche
And above all the Ouvèze,
If they're not too dry,
They will meander.		 L'estiu, la toristalha
Nos ven visitar,
Chaucha nòstra palha,
Nos pòt pus quitar.		 In the summer, the tourists
Come and visit us,
They walk on our straw
And don't want to leave.		 Sus lo pont de Nantas,
I a un auselon,
Tota la nuèit canta,
Canta pas per ieu.		 On the bridge of Nantes,
There is a little bird:
It sings all night,
It doesn't sing for me.
 (Bridesmaid)
Al cèl l'alauseta
Canta bon matin,
Puèi fa 'na pauseta
Dusca al despertin.		 (Bridesmaid)
The little lark in the sky
Has been singing since dawn
And now it's taking a rest
Until the mid-morning meal.
Per faire la biaça,
L'i a de bon fojon;
La bona fogassa
Se fai a Vernon.		 For a good meal,
We have good foujou;[15]
The best fougasse
Is made in Vernon.		 Per ganhar sa vida,
Per parlar d'argent,
Anèm a la vila
Qu'es sovent ben luènh.		 To earn our living,
To talk about business,
We go to the city,
Which is usually quite far.		 Se canta, que cante,
Canta pas per ieu,
Canta per ma mia,
Qu'es al prèp de ieu.		 If it sings, let it sing,
It's not singing for me,
It sings for my love
Who's close to me.		 (All)
A sa pijoneta
Cada pijonet
Ditz sa cançoneta
E fa'n potonet.
(All kiss.)		 (All)
To each little pigeon girl
Each little pigeon guy
Sings his sweet little song
And gives her a tender kiss.
(All kiss.)
Avèm la calheta
Mai de bons gratons,
La crica jauneta
E lo picodon.		 We have caillette[16]
And good grattons,[17]
Crique ardéchoise[18]
And picodon.		 Lo vin e las persèjas
Se vendon pas ben
E mangèm de mèrda
Que siam europencs.		 Wine and peaches
Don't make good money
And we eat unhealthy food
For being Europeans.		 Dejós ma fenèstra,
I a un ametlièr
Que fa de flors blancas
Coma de papièr.		 Outside my window,
There's an almond tree
That puts on white flowers
As white as paper.
 (Groom)
Uèi de tu, mon fraire,
Ai bastit mon niu;
Rossinhòl cantaire,
Canta donc per ieu.		 (Groom)
Today, like you, brother,
I've made my nest;
Singing nightingale,
Sing a tune for me.
Avèm de montanhas
Que tochan lo cèu
E de verdas planas
Per los bons tropèus.		 We have mountains
That scrape the sky
And green plains
For good cattle.		 Avèm de montanhas
Ont i a pus dengun
E nòstra campanha,
L'achapta mai d'un.		 We have mountains
Where no one lives anymore
And our countryside
Gets sold to foreigners.		 S'aquelas flors blancas
Fasián d'ametlons,
N'empliriái mas pòchas
Per ela e per vos.		 Shall those white flowers
Become green almonds,
I'd fill up my pockets
For her and for you.		 (Bride)
Coma tu, sorreta,
Uèi soi dins l'azur;
Joiala alauseta,
Canta mon bonur.		 (Bride)
Just like you, little sister,
Today I'm in heaven;
Happy little lark,
Sing my happiness.
Avèm de chastanhas
Gròssas coma d'uòus
E de bonas vinhas
Que fan l'òme nòu.		 We have chestnuts
As big as eggs
And vineyards
To revive our men.		 Crotz dau cementèri,
Monument aus mòrts,
Nos parlatz d'empèris,
Nòstre fotut sòrt.		 Crosses in cemetery,
War monuments,
You tell us about empires,
That's how we get paid.		 (All but bride and groom)
Que Dieu benesiga
Vòstre gente niu,
Que lèu i espeliga
Un polit pinçon.		 (All but bride and groom)
May God bless
Your beautiful nest
So that a pretty little bird
Soon hatches in it.
Avèm de ribièras
Plenas de peissons
Que chantan dins l'aiga
La nueit mai lo jorn.		 We have rivers
That are full of fish
Singing in the water
Day and night.		 Totas las usinas
En tren de sarrar;
Lo trauc de las minas,
Nos i l'an barrat.		 All the factories
Are closing down;
We dug the mines,
They shut us out.		 Last chorus
Se canta, que cante,
Cantarà per ieu,
(Guys) Emai per ma mia!
(Girls) E mon fringaire!
(All) Qu'es al pè de ieu.
 Last chorus
If it sings, let it sing,
It will sing for me,
(Guys) And also for my love!
(Girls) And for my lover too!
(All) Who's here by my side.
Avèm la fialuesa
Que bat los cocons
E la fabricuesa
Per leis armoiras.		 We have spinners
Spinning their cocoons
And female makers
Of wardrobes and cupboards.		 Los que los anèm quèrre
Per nos ajudar:
Lo prefèct, lo mère
E lo deputat.		 So we go and call
And ask for help
The prefect, the mayor
And the deputy.		        
Se l'aiga de Valse
Dins nòstre ventron,
L'i pren tròp de plaça,
Ardit lo corron!		 If the Vals-les-Bains water
In our stomach
Takes too much room,
It's time to plough!		 De chamins de fèrre,
Ara n'i a pus ges
E sobre los sèrres,
Lo monde an fugit.
 Railways
Are all gone now
And over the hills,
People have fled.		        
Fini ma chansonnette!
En bramant pertot
E de ma fenèstra,
Vos mande un poton.		 My little song is over!
Shouting here and there
And from my window,
I send you a kiss.		            
Corrèze version[19] English translation 2nd Narbonne version[20] English translation
Si n'auviá 'na mia
Que m'aimèssa pas,
La m'nariá bòrd d'aiga,
La fariá nejar.		 Should my darling
Stop loving me,
I'd take her by the river
And drown her.		 Au fons de la prada,
I a un biule traucat;
Lo cocut i canta
Dau matin au ser.		 Across the meadow,
There's a poplar with a hole
Where a cuckoo sings
From dawn to dusk.
Chorus
Quand ieu canti, quand ieu canti,
Canti pas per me;
Canti per ma mia,
Que n'es près de me.		 Chorus
When I sing, when I sing,
I don't sing for myself;
I sing for my darling,
Who's not by my side.		 Chorus
Se cantes, que cantes,
Cantes pas per ieu;
Canta per ma miga,
Qu'es auprès de ieu.		 Chorus
If you sing, may you sing,
You're not singing for me;
Sing for my darling,
Who's by my side.

References
  1. Francisco J. Oroz Arizcuren & Gerhard Rohlfs: Romania cantat: Lieder in alten und neuen Chorsätzen mit sprachlichen, literarischen und musikwissenschaftlichen Interpretationen, 1980, p. 364: [...] l'air et certains versets de cette chanson qui connaît de très nombreuses variantes, sont encore assez universellement connus. [...] La connaissance de cette chanson est reconnue sans gêne, on la chante souvent avec une certaine fierté. [...] L'intérêt particulier de la chanson Aquelas Montanhas [...] provient avant tout du fait qu'elle est à peu près la seule chanson occitane répandue à travers plusieurs dialectes d'oc qui soit encore connue d'un grand public.
  2. Institut d'Estudis Occitans 65: [...] era famusa cançon de Gaston Fébus, aquiu Aqueras montanhas que tan nautas son [...]
  3. Nemausensis.com: Certains historiens le font remonter à Gaston Phébus qui l'aurait dédié à son épouse pour se faire pardonner son comportement volage.
  4. Whebdo: Gaston Phébus (1331-1391): Devint en 1343 Comte de Foix et seigneur de Béarn sous le nom de Gaston III. Prit le surnom de Phébus (soleil) pour illustrer sa blondeur et son désir de puissance. C'était un homme d'état puissant et indépendant, passionné de chasse et... de femmes. C'est pour se faire pardonner ses nombreuses infidélités qu'il écrivit ce chant destiné à son épouse retirée dans sa famille en Espagne.
  5. Official Conselh Generau d'Aran website: Eth Plen deth Conselh Generau d'Aran a aprovat aué per unanimitat era letra oficiau der Imne Nacionau d'Aran, pr'amor qu'enquia ara non ne disposaue, a despièch qu'era cançon popular Montanhes Araneses siguesse reconeishuda coma imne d’Aran en 1993, declaracion que non venguec acompanhada dera letra corresponenta.
  6. TFC website: Depuis aujourd’hui, le TFC a trouvé un hymne, son hymne. Et le choix s’est porté sur « Se Canto », la ballade amoureuse la plus populaire de la région, que les plus fervents reprennent depuis toujours dans le virage Est.
  7. La Dépêche du Midi: «Se canto», l'hymne officiel du TFC, a raisonné pour la première fois dans l'enceinte du Stadium.
  8. Christian-Pierre Bedel: Peiralèu, 1999: Se Canta, l'hymne national occitan.
  9. Elisabeth Cestor: Les musiques particularistes: chanter la langue d'oc en Provence à la fin du XXe siècle, 2005, p. 112: Parmi les airs les plus connus, il y a Se Canta, l'hymne des félibres.
  10. Chambra d'Òc: la Presidente Mercedes Bresso che in una intervista a Repubblica ha dichiarato di essersi commossa al momento dell'esecuzione dell'Inno Se Chanta alla cerimonia inaugurale. Archived 2011-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Official Province of Turin website
  12. Marianne magazine
  13. Sources: Archived 2010-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  14. The sign reads: Le Docte Collège des Consuls de Nîmes et la ville de Nîmes ont planté cet amandier pour que la Font de Nimes se perpétue le 9 février 2002.
  15. Also called pétafine, cassaille and cachaille, foujou is a cream made with various cheeses and eau de vie, typical of Dauphiné.
  16. Caillette is a typical pâté made with pork meat and chard, spinach, prickly lettuce or endive. fr:Fichier:Caillette.JPG
  17. Grattons are pork cracklings from Auvergne. fr:Fichier:Grattons lyonnais.jpg
  18. Crique ardéchoise is a potato cake from Ardèche. fr:Fichier:Crique Ardéchoise.jpg
  19. Bulletin de la société scientifique, historique et archéologique de la Corrèze, 1899, p.555.
  20. Bulletin de la société scientifique, historique et archéologique de la Corrèze, 1899, p.556.
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