Massilia Sound System re-popularised the city of Marseille in the 1990s, in conjunction with the success of Olympique de Marseille, the local football club. Along with that empowered an entire generation of young Marseillais with a positive identity, proud of their city and their capacity to embrace different cultural traditions.
Ara Que Per Riddim Charra La Cortesia
Massilia Sound System Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ara que per riddim charra la cortesia
Sus lo son nòven vòli jitar de poesia
Per ti far montar lo pretz de meis amasias
D'aici en Africa e d'America en Asia.
REPIC:
I a des dònas d'aici,
I a des dònas d'ailà,
Moussu T., Moussu T. per totei cantarà.
Vosotrei que sabetz coma pica l'amor
Comprenetz que mi brutla la nuech e la jorn,
Manca pas de travhl per un bon trobador,
Monta lo pretz e monta totjorn la valor.
REPIC
Per parlar de chascuna ai chausit un sehau
Va sas que m'agradan lei noms d'animaus
Quora lop, quora l'ors e quora l'esquiròu,
Monte va mon vers, ò ragga, cu va saup?
Siau lop ame la loba e siau l'ors ame l'orsa,
Moussu T. per lei dònas es encara dins la corsa,
Dirai que son doças, polidas e joisas
Dirai de pertot que son meravilhosas.
REPIC
Sòna l'alarma ma dòna s'avança
Monte que vague s'enflamma la dança,
Riddim la bressa, riddim la balança
Cançon l'a vist e ver ela si lança.
Mai ti calhini et mai vau cantant
Qu'est dins ton liech que naisson mei cants,
Lei carressas de la nuech veson rimos l'endeman
Sias la musica monte vau trobant.
REPIC
Cantarai per ma dòna totjorn
Mi fau fier de son amor e fier de sa belor,
Mandarai per ma dòna totjorn
Un milierat de potons e de cansons d'amor.
REPIC.
I a des dònas Marselhesas...
The song "Ara Que Per Riddim Charra La Cortesia" by Massilia Sound System is sung in Occitan, a language spoken in southern France which stands endangered due to the imposition of French. The song presents a richness of rhythms that are fused with poetic lyrics. In the first verse, the singer talks about how courtesy is the essential element and that he wants to deliver some poetry, and he wants to show the worth of his love all over the world. The refrain reflects on the presence of women, both locally and globally, and then the singer talks about how he has chosen a theme to talk about each woman.
In the second verse, the singer demonstrates his love for the night and the day and explains that he has to work hard to be an excellent poet. The singer uses animals' names to express his admiration for his lovers' characteristics, and he calls himself a wolf who is always running after the she-wolf. In the third verse, the singer invites his beloved to dance, and he says: "the music is where I'm moving to" and he declares proud of her love and beauty.
Overall, "Ara Que Per Riddim Charra La Cortesia" advocates the fusion of languages, musics, and cultures, as well as for the appreciation of women globally. The song is beautifully sung, and the lyrics are reflective of Southern French culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Ara que per riddim charra la cortesia
Now that courtesy is conveyed through rhythm
Sus lo son nòven vòli jitar de poesia
Above it, I want to sprinkle some poetry
Per ti far montar lo pretz de meis amasias
To make the honor of my beloveds rise for you
D'aici en Africa e d'America en Asia.
From here to Africa and from America to Asia.
I a des dònas d'aici,
There are women from here,
I a des dònas d'ailà,
There are women from over there,
Moussu T., Moussu T. per totei cantarà.
Moussu T., Moussu T. will sing for them all.
Vosotrei que sabetz coma pica l'amor
You who know how love stings
Comprenetz que mi brutla la nuech e la jorn,
Understand that night and day torment me
Manca pas de travhl per un bon trobador,
There is no shortage of work for a good troubadour,
Monta lo pretz e monta totjorn la valor.
To raise the honor and always maintain the courage.
Per parlar de chascuna ai chausit un sehau
To speak about each one, I have chosen a seat
Va sas que m'agradan lei noms d'animaus
You know that I like animal names
Quora lop, quora l'ors e quora l'esquiròu,
Whether wolf, bear or squirrel,
Monte va mon vers, ò ragga, cu va saup?
My verse goes up, oh raga, who knows?
Siau lop ame la loba e siau l'ors ame l'orsa,
I am the wolf with the she-wolf and the bear with the she-bear
Moussu T. per lei dònas es encara dins la corsa,
Moussu T. is still in the race for women
Dirai que son doças, polidas e joisas
I will say that they are sweet, polished and joyful
Dirai de pertot que son meravilhosas.
I will say everywhere that they are wonderful.
Sòna l'alarma ma dòna s'avança
The alarm sounds as my woman advances
Monte que vague s'enflamma la dança,
As the rhythm rises, the dance ignites,
Riddim la bressa, riddim la balança
Riddim breaks out, riddim sways
Cançon l'a vist e ver ela si lança.
The song has seen it and she jumps into it.
Mai ti calhini et mai vau cantant
It suits you and I keep singing,
Qu'est dins ton liech que naisson mei cants,
For it is in your place that my songs are born,
Lei carressas de la nuech veson rimos l'endeman
The caresses of the night see laughter the next day
Sias la musica monte vau trobant.
You are the music I find myself in.
Cantarai per ma dòna totjorn
I will always sing for my woman
Mi fau fier de son amor e fier de sa belor,
I am proud of her love and her beauty,
Mandarai per ma dòna totjorn
I will always send for my woman
Un milierat de potons e de cansons d'amor.
A thousand kisses and love songs.
I a des dònas Marselhesas...
There are women from Marseille...
Contributed by Kayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.