by Josep Maria de Sagarra i de Castellarnau (1894 - 1961)
Translation © by Salvador Pila

Cançó de passar cantant
Language: Catalan (Català) 
Our translations:  ENG
Si ve l’abril tremolant
i el ventet que no reposa
i el perfum de Dijous Sant,
noia, no cullis la rosa:
passa cantant.

Si les trampes van picant,
si tenen vestits de festa
la geganta i el gegant,
noia, no llencis ginesta:
passa cantant.

Si la gent, ploriquejant,
camina amb la vista baixa,
si va la creu endavant,
noia, no guatis la caixa:
passa cantant.

Si t’escomet un galant,
tot tendresa, tot deliris,
defallint i sospirant,
no l’escoltis ni te’l miris:
passa cantant.

Si una vella xiuxejant
t’augura una mala estrella
i et diu que se’t marciran
aquests aires de poncella
i aquesta galta tan bella
no durarà ni un instant,
noia, riu-te de la vella:
passa cantant!

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Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Salvador Pila) , "Song to pass by, singing", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Salvador Pila [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2014-06-09
Line count: 28
Word count: 118

Song to pass by, singing
Language: English  after the Catalan (Català) 
If April comes shivering,
and the breeze that does not cease,
and the perfume of Maundy Thursday,
girl, do not pluck the rose:
pass by, singing.

If the drums are beating,
if they wear festive dresses,
the giantess and the giant,
girl, do not throw broom flowers:
pass by, singing.

If people, whining,
walk with downcast eyes,
if the cross goes ahead,
girl, do not look at the coffin:
pass by, singing.

If a gallant man makes advances,
all tenderness, all ravings,
faltering and sighing,
do not listen nor look at him:
pass by, singing. 

If an old maid, in a whisper,
predicts bad fortune to you,
and tells you that they will wither
these maiden looks,
and that these cheeks so beautiful,
will not last for a moment,
girl, laugh at the old woman:
pass by, singing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Catalan (Català) to English copyright © 2014 by Salvador Pila, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2014-06-09
Line count: 28
Word count: 138