Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit

Subject: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 09:47 PM

Lyr. Add: THE LOUSE AND THE NIT
Translation- Spanish folk song

The louse and the nit were going to be wed,
but marry they couldn't, because there was no bread.

Chorus:
Tirla, dirla, dirla, da,
tirla, dirla, dirla da.

A cow calls out from her corral,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll give the bread."

On with the wedding, since we have bread,
but now, where will we find money?

A calf calls out from his stall,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll give the money."

On with the wedding, since we have money,
now what about meat, where will we find some?

A skinny coyote answers, starving to death,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll give the meat."

On with the wedding, now we have meat,
but where can we find a cook?

A bed bug calls out from her bedbug house,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll be the cook."

On with the wedding, we have a cook,
now what about godparents, where can we find some?

A rat answers from his rat's nest,
"Tie up the cats and I'll do the godfathering."

On with the wedding, we have a godfather,
now where can we find a godmother?

A spider answers from her spidery realm,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll do the godmothering."

On with the wedding since we have godparents,
Now who will play music, and where can we find them?

A cricket calls out from his cricket hole,
"Carry on with the wedding, I'll make the music,"

On with the wedding, we have the music,
now who will dance and where can we find them?

We went clear to Africa to bring back dancers,
"Here we come, señores," say the monkeys.

At the head table, the wine is flowing,
the cats get loose, swallow the godfather.

The excitement is over, the fandango is finished,
and the poor godfather, they chewed him up.

Early in the morning, when the cock crowed,
there was not one monkey that didn't get punched.

The dogs came out with their battle cries,
the lice came out firing their bullets.

Spanish
Lyr. Add: La Trejaria del piojo y la liendre

El piojo y la liendre se iban a casar,
y no casaron por falta de pan.

Chorus:
Tirla, dirla, dirla, da,
tirla, dirla, dirla, da.

Responde una vaca desde su corral,
"Síganse las bodas que yo pondré el pan."

Síganse las bodas que si ya pan tenemos,
ahora dinero, ?dónde hallaremos?

Responde un becerro desde su chiquero,
"Síganse las bodas, yo pondaré el dinero."

Síganse las bodas, dinero tenemos,
ahora la carne, ?dónde hallaremos?

Responde un coyote, galgo muerto de hambre,
"Síganse las bodas, yo pondaré la carne."

Síganse las bodas, ya carne tenemos
ahora cocinera, ?dónde hallaremos?

Responde una chinche desde su chinchal,
"Síganse las bodas, yo iré a cocinar."

Síganse las bodas, cocinera tenemos,
ahora padrinos, ?dónde hallaremos?

Responde un rató de su ratonal,
"Amarren los gatos y yo iré a padrinear."

Síganse las bodas, padrino tenemos,
ahora madrina, ?dónde halleremos?

Responde una araña desde su aañal,
"Síganse las bodas, yo iré a madrinear."

Síganse las bodas, padrinos tenemos,
ahora quién toca, ?dónde hallaremos?

Responde un grillo desde su grillal,
"Síganse las bodas, yo iré a tocar."

Síganse las bodas, que el toque tenemos,
ahora quién baile ?dónde hallaremos?

Fuimos hasta Africa a traer bailadores,
responden los changos, "Ahí vamos, señores."

En la primera mesa repartiendo el vino,
suéltanse los gatos, sóplanse al padrino.

Se acaba la bulla, se acaba el fandango,
al pobre padrino lo llevan mascando.

En la madrugada que el gallo cantó,
no hubo ni un chango que no se trompeó.

Salen los perros haciendo algarazo,
salen los piojos tirando balazos.

New Mexico version.
Jack Loeffler, K. Loeffler and E. R. LaMadrid, 1999, "La Música de los Víejíos," pp. 8-10, sung by Abade Martínez, with music.

When I get time, I hope to add versions from Spain, including Sephardic.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 09:49 PM

desde su arañal - verse 12, line 1.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:12 AM

Strictly speaking, this could never happen, as the nit is the egg of the louse, and it would therefore be a) cradlesnatching, b)probably illegal in most countries and c) more than likely incestuous.

But a fun song none the less!

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 09:01 AM

This sounds like brucie's theme song. He has had some experience with lice, I believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: MMario
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 09:11 AM

I thought this was another thread about Mudcat Jack and whass-her-name.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 05:10 PM

Right, Liz. I wonder if a country person a couple of hundred years ago would know that.
A similar song, "El Casamiento del pioja y la Pulga," is about the wedding of a louse and a flea, and seems to be the original, but haven't found a useful set of word so far.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 06:44 PM

I suspect the connection between louse and nit had been made a very VERY long time ago.... : )

I seem to remember a song about a louse and a flea too....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Wedding of the Louse and the Nit
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:29 PM

Everybody knows the Brothers Grimm story of the louse and the flea, but I am having no luck with the songs. I have found a couple of references, but no lyrics.