The Ballad of Ho Chi Minh

Ewan MacColl

Originale

Ad Latinum sermonem adaptavit Richardus Venturi a.d. MMXX

THE BALLAD OF HO CHI MINH Far away across the ocean, Far beyond the sea's eastern rim, Lives a man who is father of the Indo-Chinese people, And his name it is Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. From Viet back to the Saigon Delta From the mountains and plains below Young and old workers, peasants and the toiling tenant farmers Fight for freedom with Uncle Ho. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Now Ho Chi Minh was a deep sea sailor He served his time out on the seven seas Work and hardship were part of his early education Exploitation his ABC. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Now Ho Chi Minh came home from sailing And he looked out on his native land Saw the want and the hunger of the Indo-Chinese people Foreign soldiers on every hand. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Now Ho Chi Minh went to the mountains And he trained a determined band Heroes all, sworn to liberate the Indo-Chinese people Drive invaders from the land. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Fourteen men became a hundred A hundred thousand and Ho Chi Minh Forged and tempered the army of the Indo-Chinese people Freedom's Army of Viet Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Every soldier is a farmer Comes the evening and he grabs his hoe Comes the morning he swings his rifle on his shoulder This the army of Uncle Ho. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. From the mountains and the jungles From the ricelands and the Plain of Reeds March the men and the women of the Indo-Chinese Army Planting freedom with vict'ry seeds. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. From Viet back to the Saigon Delta Marched the armies of Viet Minh And the wind stirs the banners of the Indo-Chinese people Peace and freedom and Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh.

CARMEN DE HO CHI MINH In Asiae ultramarinis Extremis litoribus, Homo habitat Indosinensium pater Cui nomen est Ho Chi Minh. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Vietnamia tota usque ad Saegoniam, In magnis spatiis atque montibus, Pugnant operarii colonique ex omni aetate Pro libertate cum avo Ho Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Fuit olim Ho in alto mari nauta Terra marique vitam tolerans, Puer est eductus labore operaque, Abusu aspere instructus est. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Cum Ho Chi Minh domum rediret Adspexit terram qua natus est, Vidit populum suum in egestate, Esuriens sub externo iugo Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh ad montes ascendit Qui cohortem ad pugnam exerceret, Iuravere heroes repulsuros omnes Qui in Indosinas invaserunt Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh E perpaucis accrevere Ad centum milia cum Ho Chi Minh, Gallos strenua pugna repulere Milites in copiis Viet Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Omnis miles est colonus, Sudabat heri terram laborans, Hodie mane capit suum mydrobolon Pugnans strenue pro avo Ho Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Hostis hodie multo fortior Sed profligare nequit nos Pugnantes pro rerum conversione In Vietnamia cum avo Ho. Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh