Le prumièr del mes de mai
This song is clearly a direct translation of the French song La perdriole.
Le prumièr del mes de mai
The First of the Month of May
Cumulative Song
Cumulative Song
(Occitan)
(English)
1 Le prumièr del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
2 Le segond del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
3 Le tres del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
4 Le quatre del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Quatre canards volant a l'èr ,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
5 Le cinq del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
6 Le sieis del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
7 Le sèt del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
8 Le uèit del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
9 Le nau del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
10 Le dètz del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
11 Le onze del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Onze mosquetaires venon de la guèrra,
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
12 Le dotze del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Dotze domaisèlas graciosas e bèlas,
Onze mosquetaires venon de la guèrra,
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
13 Le trètze del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Trètze boquets blancs,
Dotze domaisèlas graciosas e bèlas,
Onze mosquetaires venon de la guèrra,
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
14 Le quatòrze del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Quatorze pans blancs,
Trètze boquets blancs,
Dotze domaisèlas graciosas e bèlas,
Onze mosquetaires venon de la guèrra,
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
15 Le quinze del mes de mai,
Qu'envoiarai a ma mia?
Quinze bots de vin,
Quatorze pans blancs,
Trètze boquets blancs,
Dotze domaisèlas graciosas e bèlas,
Onze mosquetaires venon de la guèrra,
Dètz motons belants,
Nau buòus cornaus,
Uèit chivals blancs,
Sèt lebrièrs corrants,
Sieis lèbres al camp,
Cinq lapins en tèrra,
Quatre canards volant a l'èr,
Tres pijons blancs,
Doas tortorèlas,
Una perditz que vòla, que vòla;
Una perditz que vòla.
1. The first [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
2. The second [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
3. The third [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
4. The fourth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
5. The fifth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
6. The sixth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
7. The seventh [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Seven sighthounds*,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
8. The eighth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
9. The ninth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
10. The tenth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
11. The eleventh [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Eleven musketeers back from the war,
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
12. The twelfth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Twelves maidens, nice and beautiful,
Eleven musketeers back from the war,
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
13. The thirteenth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send my beloved?
Thirteen white bouquets,
Twelves maidens, nice and beautiful,
Eleven musketeers back from the war,
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
14. The fourteenth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Fourteen loaves of bread,
Thirteen white bouquets,
Twelves maidens, nice and beautiful,
Eleven musketeers back from the war,
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
15 The fifteenth [day] of the month of May,
What will I send to my beloved?
Fifteen caskets of wine,
Fourteen loaves of bread,
Thirteen white bouquets,
Twelves maidens, nice and beautiful,
Eleven musketeers back from the war,
Ten white sheep,
Nine horned oxen,
Eight white horses,
Seven sighthounds,
Six hares in the field,
Five rabbits on the ground,
Four ducks flying in the air,
Three white pigeons,
Two turtle doves,
A partridge that flies, that flies,
A partridge that flies.
Notes
*Sight hounds hunt by sight and speed. The other type of hound is called scent hounds. They hunt by scent and endurance.
This song derives from the French song "La perdriole". This can be known from the fact that some words rhyme in French (mousquetaires, guerre) while they don't rhyme in Occitan. The article "le", the numerals "prumièr" and "nau", "perdic" indicate that this version was written in the Gascon dialect.
We haven't been able to find musical notation for this song.
Here are the lyrics in their original spelling:
1) Le prumiè del mes de mai,
Qu'embouiarei à ma mio ?
Uno perdic que bolo, que bolo;
Uno perdic que bolo.
2) Le segoun del mes de mai,
Qu'embouiarei à mai mio ?
Dos tourtourèlos,
Uno perdic que bolo, etc.
3) Le très - très pijouns blancs.
4) Le quatre - quatre canards boulants à l'èr.
5) Le cinq - cinq lapins an terro.
6) Le sieis - sieis lèbres al camp.
7) Le sept - sept lebriès courants.
8) Le beit - beit chibals blancs.
9) Le naut - naut bious cournaus.
10) Le dèts - dèts moutous bêlants.
11) Le ounze - ounze mousquetaires benount de la guerro.
12) Le doutze - doutze doumaizèlos, graciousos et bèlos.
13) Le tretze - tretze bouquets blancs.
14) Le quatorze - quatorze pai blancs.
15) Le quinze - quinze bouts de bi.
