Le Grand Coureur
Daniele SepeVersione inglese di Riccardo Venturi | |
MARENARE | THE PRIVATEER "GRAND COUREUR" |
Ce tenevo na picciotta Bella tosta e ciotta ciotta Po nu juorn me mbarcai E mmiez ‘o mare me menai | The privateer Grand Coureur Is a poor, unlucky ship, When she sets out so bold To chase the English at sea Alas! The wind, sea and war Turn their back to the French. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Senza rum e senza vient’ Stamme tutt arruvenat’ E tira sta cimma a ca’ E votta sta cimma a la | She sailed out from Lorient With still sea, and fair winds That drove her from larboard Making her sail like a fish. But there it comes a storm And, alas! She's made a wreck. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
E pe’ copp’ ‘o bastiment’ Me ne jev’ assai cuntent’ ‘E juorn’ stev’ a fa ‘e purpett’ E ‘a sera semp’ nu tressett’ | All the masts had we to mend Working hard like negro slaves, And as work is still going on Someone calls from starboard. Here comes a ship boarding, And she's full of cannonguns. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
E co vient’ d’ maestrale Me jucai o tre ‘e denare E co vient de ponente Me jucai tutt ‘e rient | It was just an English ship showing her two rows of guns. Looked like a true deathmonger, but the French do not fear her. So, instead of taking flight, we'll engage in the fight. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Me pareva tutt’ buon’ Fino a che sentett ‘o tuon’ Dinto ‘o giro ‘e Na ricotta Jett tutt’ sott’ e ngopp’ | The balls flying o'er our heads, we repaid 'em one by one, our brave sailormen's beards are steaming in the great toil! Then the English ship it sneaks in a fog bank and disappears. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Chill’ a poppa jett’ a prora Chi a babordo e chi a tribordo Nu burdell’ nu serraglio Tocca ‘o fierr’ e piglia l’aglio | Here's what we picked up in six months roving at sea: a ship loaded with potatoes just half-wrecked, as you see, and another carrying slippers, and the last loaded with dung. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Antrasatta ‘o capitano Se mettette a cul’ ‘a for E dicette a ‘o pataterne Tiè viè pigliame all’inferno | To recover from the fight We got a nice meal indeed: A slop, rancid lard in slices, Sour vinegar instead of wine, Mouldy biscuits gone long since, Camphor brandy for breakfast. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Tutt’ quant’ a cul a fore Nun ve dico po c’addore Jastemmanne ‘o calendario Ma astrigneveme ‘o rusario | To get rid of our bad fate We're drawing to the port To put an end to disgraces By death, seeing how it'll end. Everyone of us is trying to reach safety his own way! Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Tuon’ lamp’ e cavallune A vedè sti cul a fore Se mettetten’ a ppaura E turnaine a Palinure | The captain and his adjutant Clinging to a floating gun, The boatswain to the big anchor, The storekeeper to a barrel, That bloody old motherfucker! He always stole our allowance. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Dint ‘o tiemp ‘e ddoje tre botte Chesta chiorma ‘e cacasotte Se truvaine miez’ ‘o mare ‘E part de Castellammare | Behold now the ship's cook With his kitchen and his hooks, How he's hidden in a big pot just like stale bread soup, sailing away with the wind as if pursued by the hell fire. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Chist’ è ‘o fatt e chist’ è ‘o cunt Dint’ ‘a vita ce vo ‘o culo Anche detto deretano Ve lo dice il Capitano | All our bad luck, I tell ye, is the caulker's fault, you see: he fell down from the maintop on to th' slippery stemdeck, bounced back down the caboose and the girders he did break. Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |
Senza rum e senza vient’ Stamme tutt arruvenat’ E tira sta cimma a ca’ E votta sta cimma a la | If the story of Grand Coureur your heart it did move to weep be so kind as to repay us by your gratefulness so deep! Give us wine, brandy and beer and we'll drink your health to keep! Come on, boys, come on! Come on, boys, stay merry! |