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Carnival Song from Malta, with an English Translation

Saturday, March 4th, 2006

Carnival took place last Tuesday, and last week I presented different songs for the occasion from around the world. Here’s one that I was sent yesterday, from Malta. It’s a little late, but I really like it!

Perlini u prinjolata
(Maltese)

Perlini u prinjolata
matul il-karnival
dawn huma jiem ta briju
ghall-kbar w ghalina tfal
min jilbes ta xi buffu
min jilbes ta pirat
ilkoll incapcpu u nidhku
hadd ma jkun irrabjat
evviva l-maskarati
evviva l-hmerijiet
ninghqadu llkoll mal-follol
naraw il-karrijiet
viva viva l-karnival
viva viva l-karnival

Carnival
(English)

Pine-nut cake and sugared almonds
Coloured like these carnival days,
Full of noise and joy and laughter,
Of young and old with childish ways.

Some will dress as mighty pirates,
Some will dress as funny clowns,
We’ll all clap and laugh together,
No one should be wearing frowns!

So long live the masquerades and
Long live all the foolish deeds!
Let’s all join this crowd of people,
And see the floats parade the streets.

Long, long live the carnival!
Long, long live the carnival!

Many thanks to Christine George for sending me this song in Maltese. Thanks also to The Ministry for Tourism and Culture of Malta and Adrian Grimas of Inizjamed for all their help, and for Roderick Mallia of Inizjamed for translating this wonderful song.

Inizjamed is a cultural organization that supports culture and artistic expression in the Maltese Islands and actively promotes a greater awareness of the cultures of the Mediterranean.

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Malta Page for Maltese songs and rhymes.

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