My great grandfather sang this ancient song. It is by a Bari poet named Francesco Saverio Abbrescia. We sang it on St. Nicholas’ day. Now the great-grandfather is gone.
For the feast of de la menute de Sanda Necole Da Mira a Vare:
“Vjine vjine Tatà buene,
vjiene, Amiche de Gesù:
vjiene a ddà la palandene
a l’amate figghje tù.
Benedisce cjil e mare,
la cambagne e la città,
a le misere marnare
uelde n’ecchje de pietà!
Mendagnole allegramende,
meh! Candame ad armenì:
Vjine, Stedd all’Auriende,
Com’u Sole a mmenzadì.
E chemborm’ jind’au paise
T’acchegghjime ‘mmenz’ a nnù,
tu ‘nge accuegghje ‘mbaravise
Sott’au sand mande tù!”
Canto antico
