A Bordèu que i a nau damas
This is a Gascon "song of nine". A "song of nine" is a song that starts with 9 items on the first verse then the number of items decreases with each verse till it reaches 1. There is no "4" because in Gascon "quate" has two syllables.
The translation below has been altered to make it singable You'll find the literal translation in the Notes.
A Bordèu que i a nau damas
In Bordeaux There are Nine Ladies
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Occitan)
(English)
A Bordèu que i a nau damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a nau damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon*,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a uèit damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a uèit damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a sèt damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a sèt damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a sheis damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a sheis damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a cinc damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a cinc damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a tres damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a tres damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a duas damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a duas damas,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dançan au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
A Bordèu que i a ua dama,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
A Bordèu que i a ua dama,
Pomas, arrasims, higas e castanhas,
Tant bien dança au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons,
Tant bien dança au vriulon,
Pomas arrasims, higas e melons.
In Bordeaux there are nine ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are nine ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are eight ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are eight ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are seven ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are seven ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are six ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are six ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are five ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are five ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are three ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are three ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there are two ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there are two ladies,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune they dance so fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
In Bordeaux there is one lady,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
In Bordeaux there is one lady,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and cherries,
To the tune she dances fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes,
To the tune she dances fine,
Apples, grapes and figs, apricots and limes.
Notes
*This line can also be found as "Atau dansan au violon" (Thus they dance to the violin).
Literal Translation:
In Bordeaux there are nine ladies,
Apples, grapes, figs and chestnuts,
In Bordeaux there are nine ladies,
Apples, grapes, figs and chestnuts,
They dance so well to the violin,
Apples, grapes, figs and melons,
They dance so well to the violin,
Apples, grapes, figs and melons.
Thanks!
"A Bordèu que i a nau damas,
Pomas e rasins, figas e castanhas…"
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Contribution, Translation and Illustration: Monique
Mercés!
