Se Canta

Se Canta

English: If it Sings
National anthem of  Occitania
Also known as	Se Chanta Aqueras Montanhas, Montanhes Araneses
Lyrics	Gaston III Fébus (attributed)
Adopted	2008 (only in Val d'Aran, with the title Montanhes Araneses)

Se Canta (Occitan pronunciation: [se ˈkantɔ, 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]

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]

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, 2003 (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 Poitevin, 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 twelve 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. Chorus Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia Qu'es al luènh de ieu. Aquelas montanhas Que tan nautas son, M'empachan de veire Mas amors ont son. Baissatz-vos, montanhas, Planas, levatz-vos, Per que pòsca veire Mas amors ont son. Aquelas montanhas Tant s'abaissaràn, Que mas amoretas Se raprocharàn.	Outside my window, There is a little bird Singing all night, Singing its song. Chorus If it sings, let it sing, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Lay down, o mountains, And rise up, o plains, So I may see Where my love has gone. Those mountains Will lay down so low That my dear love Will come closer.	Al fons de la prada, I a'n pibol traucat: Lo cocut i canta, Benlèu i a nisat. Chorus Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia, Qu'es al luènh de ieu. Dejós ma fenèstra, I a un aucelon, Tota la nuèit canta, Canta sa cançon. Aquelas montanhas, Que tan nautas son, M'empachan de veire, Mas amors ont son. Baissatz-vos, montanhas, Planas, auçatz-vos, Per que pòsca veire, Mas amors ont son. Aquelas montanhas, Tant s'abaissaràn, Que mas amoretas, Se raprocharàn.	Across the meadow, There's a poplar with a hole Where a cuckoo sings: It must be nesting there. Chorus If it sings, let it sing, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Outside my window, There is a little bird Singing all night, Singing its song. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Lay down, o mountains, And rise up, o plains, So I may see Where my love has gone. Those mountains Will lay down so low That my dear love Will come closer.	Sota ma fenèstra, I a un aucelon, Tota la nuèch canta, Canta sa cançon. Chorus Se canta e recanta, Canta pas per ieu: Canta per ma mia Qu'es au luènh de ieu. Aquelei montanhas Que tant autas son, M'empachan de veire Meis amors ont son. Autas, ben son autas, Mai s'abaissaràn, E meis amoretas Vèrs ieu revendràn. Baissatz-vos, montanhas, Planas auçatz-vos, Per que pòsque veire Meis amors ont son. A la fònt de Nîmes, I a un ametlièr Que fa de flors blancas Au mes de janvièr. S'aquelei flors blancas Èran d'ametlons, Culhiriáu d'amètlas Per ieu e per vos. Se canta e recanta, Canta pas per ieu: Canta per ma mia Qu'es auprès de ieu.	Outside my window There is a little bird Singing all night, Singing its song. Chorus If it sings and sings again, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. High, they're so high But they will lay down And my dear love Will come back to me. Lay down, o mountains And rise up, o plains So I may see Where my love has gone. At the fountain of Nîmes, There's an almond tree That puts on white flowers In the month of January. Shall those white flowers Become green almonds, I'd pick handfuls of them For me and for you. If it sings and sings again, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's come back to me.	Davant de ma fenèstra, I a un aucelon, Tota la nuèch chanta, Chanta sa chançon. Chorus Se chanta, que chante, Chanta pas per ieu, Chanta per ma mia Qu'es al luènh de ieu. Aquelas montanhas Que tant autas son, M'empachan de veire Mas amors ont son. Aquelas montanhas Lèu s'abaissaràn E mas amoretas Se raprocharàn. Baissatz-vos, montanhas, Planas, levatz-vos, Per que pòsque veire Mas amors ont son. Al fons de la prada, I a'n pibol traucat: Lo coguol i canta, Benlèu i a nisat. (Lei filhas de Valença San pas far l'amor; Quelei de Provença Lo fan nuèch e jorn.)	Outside my window, There is a little bird Singing all night, Singing its song. Chorus If it sings, let it sing, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Those mountains Will soon lay down And my dear love Will come closer. Lay down, o mountains, And rise up, o plains, So I may see Where my love has gone. Across the meadow, There's a poplar with a hole Where a cuckoo sings: It must be nesting there. (The girls from Valence Can't make love; Those from Provence Do it night and day.)
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. Chorus Se canti, jo que canti, Canti pas per jo, Canti per ma mia Qu'ei a luenh de jo. Aqueras mountanhas Que tan hautas son, M’empachan de véder Mas amors on son. Baishatz-ve, montanhas, Planas, hauçatz-ve, Tà que pòsqui véder Mas amors on son. Aqueras montanhas Que s'abaisharàn E mas amoretas Que pareisheràn. Se sabèvi las véder, On las rencontrar, Passarí l'aigueta Shens paur de'm negar. Las pomas son maduras, Las cau amassar E las joenes hilhas, Las cau maridar.	Outside my window, There is a little bird Singing all night, Singing its song. 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. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Lay down, o mountains, And rise up, o plains, So I may see Where my love has gone. Those mountains Will lay down And my dear love Will appear. If I knew where she is, Where I can meet her, I would cross the river, Fearless of drowning. The apples are ripe And ready to be picked And the young girls Are ready to get wed.	Dejós ma fenèstra, I a un auselon, Tota la nuèit canta, Canta pas per ieu. Chorus Se canta, qué canta? Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia Qu'es al luènh de ieu. Al fonse de l'òrta, I a un ametlièr Que fa de flors blancas Coma de papièr. Aquelas flors blancas Faràn d’ametlons Per remplir las pòchas De ieu e de vos. Aquelas montanhas Que tan nautas son, M'empachan de veire Mas amors ont son. Aquelas montanhas Se n'abaissaràn E mas amouretas Se raprocharàn. (S'èri 'na virondèla E posquès volar, Traversariái l'aiga Per l'anar 'mbraçar.)	Outside my window, There is a little bird: It sings all night, It doesn't sing for me. Chorus If it sings, then what for? It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Across the garden, There's an almond tree That puts on white flowers As white as paper. Those white flowers Will become green almonds And fill up our pockets, Both mine and yours. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Those mountains Will lay down And my dear love Will come closer. (If I were a sparrow And I could fly, I'd cross the river Just to hug her.)	A la font de Nîmes, I a un ametlièr Que fa de flors blancas Coma lo papièr. Chorus Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia Qu'es al luènh de ieu. Aval dins la plana, I a'n pibol traucat: Lo cocut i canta Quand i va nisar. Aquelas montanhas Que tan nautas son, M'empachan de veire Mas amors ont son. Baissatz-vos, montanhas, Planas, auçatz-vos, Per que pòsca veire Ont son mas amors. Nautas son, plan nautas, Mas s'abaissaràn E mas amoretas Apareisseràn.	At the fountain of Nîmes, There's an almond tree That puts on flowers As white as paper. Chorus If it sings, let it sing, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's far away from me. Down in the valley, There's a poplar with a hole: The cuckoo sings When it nests in there. Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. Lay down, o mountains And rise up, o plains So I may see Where my love has gone. They're high, so high, But they will lay down And my dear love Will appear.	Aqueres montanhes Que tant nautes son, M'empèishen de véder Mèns amors an o son. Nautes, se son nautes, Ja s'abaisharàn Es mies amoretes Que s'aproparàn. Montanhes araneses A on es pastors Es hònts regalades Tròben, e jordons. Se cantes, perqué cantes? Cantes pas per jo, Cantes per ma hilha Que non ei près de jo. Montanhes coronades Tot er an de nhèu, Tan nautes e bères Que vos pune eth cèu. Montanhes araneses Pientades de rius, De totes grandeses Vos adorne Diu. Nòsti amors veiguéretz Com rosèr florir, Volem com es pares, Guardant-vos morir.	Those mountains That are so high Keep me from seeing Where my love has gone. High, they're so high, But they will lay down, And my dear love Will come closer. Aran mountains Where the shepherds Shooting water springs Find, and raspberries too. If you sing, why do you? You're not singing for me, You're singing for my girl Who's not by my side. Mountains crowned All year long with snow, So high and beautiful That the sky kisses you. Aran mountains Combed with riverlets, With all majesties God adorns you. 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. Chorus Ardecha, Ardecha, Qu'es nòstre país; S'as pas vist Ardecha, As jamai ren vist. Volana mai Ardecha, Ovesa sustot, Se n'es pas tròp secha, Fai lo serpaton. Per faire la biaça, L'i a de bon fojon; La bona fogassa Se fai a Vernon. Avèm la calheta Mai de bons gratons, La crica jauneta E lo picodon. Avèm de montanhas Que tochan lo cèu E de verdas planas Per los bons tropèus. Avèm de chastanhas Gròssas coma d'uòus E de bonas vinhas Que fan l'òme nòu. Avèm de ribièras Plenas de peissons Que chantan dins l'aiga La nueit mai lo jorn. Avèm la fialuesa Que bat los cocons E la fabricuesa Per leis armoiras. Se l'aiga de Valse Dins nòstre ventron, L'i pren tròp de plaça, Ardit lo corron! Fini ma chansonnette! En bramant pertot E de ma fenèstra, Vos mande un poton.	Over the mountain, The sun always Dries off the dew Well before noon. Chorus Ardèche, Ardèche, This is our country; Who never saw Ardèche Has never seen anything. The Volane and the Ardèche And above all the Ouvèze, If they're not too dry, They will meander. For a good meal, We have good foujou;[15] The best fougasse Is made in Vernon. We have caillette[16] And good grattons,[17] Crique ardéchoise[18] And picodon. We have mountains That scrape the sky And green plains For good cattle. We have chestnuts As big as eggs And vineyards To revive our men. We have rivers That are full of fish Singing in the water Day and night. We have spinners Spinning their cocoons And female makers Of wardrobes and cupboards. If the Vals-les-Bains water In our stomach Takes too much room, It's time to plough! My little song is over! Shouting here and there And from my window, I send you a kiss.	Vès Cruàs e vès Meissa, Nos i van bastir Una centralassa, Nos faràn rostir. Chorus Ardecha, Ardecha, Marvilhós país; S'as pas vist Ardecha, As jamai ren vist. L'estiu, la toristalha Nos ven visitar, Chaucha nòstra palha, Nos pòt pus quitar. Per ganhar sa vida, Per parlar d'argent, Anèm a la vila Qu'es sovent ben luènh. Lo vin e las persèjas Se vendon pas ben E mangèm de mèrda Que siam europencs. Avèm de montanhas Ont i a pus dengun E nòstra campanha, L'achapta mai d'un. Crotz dau cementèri, Monument aus mòrts, Nos parlatz d'empèris, Nòstre fotut sòrt. Totas las usinas En tren de sarrar; Lo trauc de las minas, Nos i l'an barrat. Los que los anèm quèrre Per nos ajudar: Lo prefèct, lo mère E lo deputat. De chamins de fèrre, Ara n'i a pus ges E sobre los sèrres, Lo monde an fugit.	In Cruas and Meysse, They're going to build A huge power plant That will us all. Chorus Ardèche, Ardèche, My wonderful country; Who never saw Ardèche Has never seen anything. In the summer, the tourists Come and visit us, They walk on our straw And don't want to leave. To earn our living, To talk about business, We go to the city, Which is usually quite far. Wine and peaches Don't make good money And we eat unhealthy food For being Europeans. We have mountains Where no one lives anymore And our countryside Gets sold to foreigners. Crosses in cemetery, War monuments, You tell us about empires, That's how we get paid. All the factories Are closing down; We dug the mines, They shut us out. So we go and call And ask for help The prefect, the mayor And the deputy. Railways Are all gone now And over the hills, People have fled.	Paissètz, mas oelhetas, Paissètz doçament, Vos quiti soletas Per un cort moment. La pastoreleta Que ieu vau trobar, S'anuja soleta Jos d'aquel albar. Sus lo pont de Nantas, I a un auselon, Tota la nuèit canta, Canta pas per ieu. Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Canta per ma mia, Qu'es al prèp de ieu. Dejós ma fenèstra, I a un ametlièr Que fa de flors blancas Coma de papièr. S'aquelas flors blancas Fasián d'ametlons, N'empliriái mas pòchas Per ela e per vos.	Graze, my sheep, Graze in peace, I have to leave you For a short while. The nice little shepherdess That I'm going to meet Is getting bored Under that white poplar. On the bridge of Nantes, There is a little bird: It sings all night, It doesn't sing for me. If it sings, let it sing, It's not singing for me, It sings for my love Who's close to me. Outside my window, There's an almond tree That puts on white flowers As white as paper. Shall those white flowers Become green almonds, I'd fill up my pockets For her and for you.	Best man: Quand la prima arriba, Lo gai rossinhòl, D'amor per la riba, Canta coma un fòl. Chorus Se canta, que cante, Canta pas per ieu, Guys: Ni mai per ma mia! Girls: Ni mon fringaire! All again: Qual sap ont l'ai ieu! Bridesmaid: Al cèl l'alauseta Canta bon matin, Puèi fa 'na pauseta Dusca al despertin. All: A sa pijoneta Cada pijonet Ditz sa cançoneta E fa'n potonet. All kiss. Groom: Uèi de tu, mon fraire, Ai bastit mon niu; Rossinhòl cantaire, Canta donc per ieu. Bride: Coma tu, sorreta, Uèi soi dins l'azur; Joiala alauseta, Canta mon bonur. All but bride and groom: Que Dieu benesiga Vòstre gente niu, Que lèu i espeliga Un polit pinçon. Ending chorus Se canta, que cante, Cantarà per ieu, Guys: Emai per ma mia! Girls: E mon fringaire! All again: Qu'es al pè de ieu.	Best man: When spring comes, The merry nightingale, For the love of the river bank, Sings like never before. Chorus If it sings and sings again, It's not singing for me, Guys: Neither for my love!' Girls: Nor for my lover! All again: Who knows where they're now! Bridesmaid: The little lark in the sky Has been singing since dawn And now it's taking a rest Until the mid-morning meal. All: To each little pigeon girl Each little pigeon guy Sings his sweet little song And gives her a tender kiss. All kiss. Groom: Today, like you, brother, I've made my nest; Singing nightingale, Sing a tune for me. Bride: Just like you, little sister, Today I'm in heaven; Happy little lark, Sing my happiness. All but bride and groom: May God bless Your beautiful nest So that a pretty little bird Soon hatches in it. Ending 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 again: Who's here 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.
11. Official Province of Turin website
12. Marianne magazine
13. Sources:
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

External links

• Video with translated lyrics
• (English) (French) & (Occitan) Score, MIDI file, and lyrics