http://bellezonero.tumblr.com/post/180211353820/audio_player_iframe/bellezonero/tumblr_owf6e2jpTT1ucsx5s?audio_file=https%3A%2F%2Fa.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_owf6e2jpTT1ucsx5so1.mp3

useless-catalanfacts:

This is a traditional song from Catalonia about a group of bandits chased by the authorities. Like it happends with most traditional songs, there are different versions of the lyrics, but all of them explain the same story. I will translate this version, as sang by Marina Rossell.

The names of places mentioned in this song are real places in the north of Catalonia.

–Quina cançó cantarem

“What song will we sing

que tots la coneguem?
that we all know?”

–La dels contrabandistes.
“The one about the bandits.

Que a Banyuls varen anar
Who went to Banyuls

de tabac a carregar
to load with tobacco

tota una companyia.
a whole company.”

Però en passar per Fortià,
But when they passed by Fortià,

de front varen topar
they ran straight into

amb el temut espia,
the feared spy,

que a Figueres se’n va anar
who went to Figueres

a contar-ho al capità:
to tell the captain:

–N’he vist contrabandistes.
“I have seen bandits.”

Uh, lailà, larà, la, lera,
Uh, lailà, larà, la, la,
la, la, larà, la, la, larà,
la, la, la, la, la.

El capità va cridant:
The captain is shouting:

–Soldats, au, endavant,
“Soldiers, come on, forward,

poliu la punteria!
perfeccionate your aim!

Que allà on els trobarem
For there where we find them

baionetes pararem!
we will stop bayonettes!”

Quina carnisseria!
What a slaughter!

I en passar per Sant Aniol,
And when they passed by
Sant Aniol,

la tarda es vestí de dol
the afternoon dressed in mourning

per tantes traïdories.
for so many treacheries.

Daga trista, tret covard,
Sad dagger, coward shot,

que la vida heu arrencat
you have teared off the life

dels braus contrabandistes.

from the fierce bandits.

Uh, lailà, larà, la, lera,
Uh, lailà, larà, la, la,
la, la, larà, la, la, larà,
la, la, la, la, la.