BEN VENI MAGG (Piedmontese) Ritornello Ben, ben, veni magg Ben, ben, veni magg Quand ch'a turna 'l meis 'd magg O vui padruna si völi nèn chërdi che ‘l Magg sia rivà facév’ d’la finestra e lu vedrài piantà Guardé la nostra spusa cum’a l’e’ bin duba’ a smija la fiur del pèrsi quand ch’a l’é butuna’ Guardé la nostra spusa che bel vestì ch’a l’à chissà chi l’à cumprailu sarà la sua mamà Guardé la nostra spusa che bel capel ch’a l’à chissà chi l’à cumpràilu sarà ‘l so papà Guardé la nostra spusa che bel anel ch’a l’à chissà chi l’à cumpràilu sarà ‘l so’ ‘namurà O vui padruna si völi paghé* Nijait suma da viagi e via duvum 'nde O vui padruna che l'evi pagà Preguma sant'Antoni ch'av deja la sanità O vui padruna che l'evi pagà nen Ji scalabrun an testa e le vespe an sen

WELCOME MAY Chorus Welcome may When the month of May comes O you mistress if you don't want to believe that May has arrived Look out the window and you will see it planted Look at our bride how beautifully adorned she is She looks like the peach blossom when it has buds Look at our bride what a beautiful dress she has Who knows who bought it for her, might be her mother Look at our bride what a beautiful hat she has Who knows who bought it for her, might be his dad Look at our bride what a beautiful ring she has Who knows who bought it for her, might be her lover O you mistress if you want to pay* We are traveling and we have to go Oh you, mistress who have paid We pray St Anthony to grant you health O you mistress who have not paid [We wish you] hornets in your head and wasps in your breast.

*Note from Cattia: "paghé" to rhyme with "andé" with the sense of "if you want to make a donation -money or food".

Recording by Canto Vivo.
Live rendition of a different by version Tre Martelli, an Italian folk and traditional music band (Official website -in Italian).

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