La Krokodil' (The Crocodile)
This is a song (Kantfesto I, p. 60, also in my Donu hejmon al mi) that I only know in Esperanto, but that I imagine is of French or nearby origin. The MIDI is at La Krokodil' : Melodio. The text *means* as follows
The crocodile going to war
Has just said good-bye to its young ones;
It went off roaring with excitement,
Thinking craftily about elephants.
(Refrain)
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o! It murmured a military march, swallowing
Between its teeth, words stayed away;
When it opened its huge mouth all the way,
the enemies' hearts trembled.
(Refrain)
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o! Its song hummed at the banks of the Nile,
And everything on the banks of the Nile trembled.
But suddenly an elephant arrived,
And the brave crocodile disappeared.
(Refrain)
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
If the cro-cro-cro- the cro-cro-cro the crocodile,
Has disappeared from the Nile, let's not say anything further.
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o,
O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o-o-o, O-e-o-o-o-e-o-e-o!
(This is a very literal, unsingable translation, obviously.) I am interested to know what the original language and original text is; whether there are other texts (in any language) to that tune; and whether there is a workable English singing text. Anybody know?
Liland
|
sj