"The Oxherd" (Le Bouvier in French) is an Occitan traditional song. It was popular in Languedoc during the Late Middle Ages, being particularly associated to the religious movement of Catharism. It might have developed during the Albigensian Crusade, when Cathar beliefs were declared forbidden.
Along with "Se Canta", it is possibly the most known old Occitan song. It was studied by Gérard de Sède and performed by artists like Corou de Berra, Jean-Bernard Plantevin, André Ricros and Gacha Empega. It was also utilized by Radio Toulouse during World War I as a resistance song.
Lyrics[]
Quand lo boièr ven de laurar (bis)
Planta son agulhada
A, e, i, ò, u!
Planta son agulhada.
Trapa (Tròba) sa femna al pè del fuòc (bis)
Trista e (Tota) desconsolada.
A, e, i, ò, u!
Trista e (Tota) desconsolada.
Se siás (Se n'es) malauta diga z-o (bis)
Te farai un potatge (una alhada)
A, e, i, ò, u!
Te farai un potatge (una alhada)
Amb una raba, amb un caulet (bis)
Una lauseta magra.
A, e, i, ò, u!
Una lauseta magra.
Quand serai mòrta enterratz-me (rebomb-me) (bis)
Al pus fons (Al prigond) de la cròta (cava)
A, e, i, ò, u!
Al pus fons (Al prigond) de la cròta (cava)
Los pés virats (Met-me los pès) a la paret (bis)
La tèsta a la rajada (Lo cap jos la canela)
A, e, i, ò, u!
La tèsta a la rajada (Lo cap jos la canela)
Los pelegrins (E los romius) que passaràn (bis)
Prendràn d'aiga senhada.
A, e, i, ò, u!
Prendràn d'aiga senhada.
E diràn «Qual es mòrt aicí?» (bis)
Aquò es la paura Joana.
A, e, i, ò, u!
Aquò es la paura Joana.
Se n'es anada al paradís (bis)
Al cèl ambe sas cabras.
A, e, i, ò, u!
Al cèl ambe sas cabras.