#Catalonia

[orrinivalis]

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Hermosa puerta en la Casa Josep Padró en BARCELONA

[useless-catalanfacts]

YouTube link / Spotify link.

This is one of the most famous traditional songs from Catalonia, believed to have its origins in the Middle Ages. It's called La presó de Lleida ("The Lleida Prison") and talks about a group of prisoners who want to break free.

It was one of the first songs that I translated, but the YouTube link I had added in the post is now broken and, since it's an old post in an old Tumblr format, it doesn't let me replace it. So here you have it again!

This is one of a few similar traditional Catalan songs about prisoners breaking free (other variants of it are La presó de Tibi and La presó de Nàpols). Like with all folk music transmitted from generation to generation, there are different versions of the song. Here I have translated the version sang by Marina Rossell, but if you search for the song on the internet you'll find others.

Lyrics in Catalan and the translation of each stanza to English:

A la ciutat de Lleida hi ha una presó, de presos mai n'hi manquen, petita bonica, senyor governador, lireta liró.

In the city of Lleida there is a prison, it’s never lacking in prisoners, oh pretty little one, mister governor, lalala.

Tots els homes que hi viuen han escrit una cançó, una cançó senzilla, petita bonica, de ràbia i d'amor, lireta liró.

All the men who live there have written a song, a simple song, pretty little one, of rage and love, lalala.

El carceller se l'escolta des d'alt del mirador: cada vers, cada estrofa, petita bonica, es més gran son rencor, lireta liró.

The jailer is listening to it from up the balcony: each verse, each stanza, pretty little one, his resentment is greater, lalala.

Los presos se n’adonen, ja canten molt més fort: el carceller té un arma, petita bonica, els presos la cançó, lireta liró.

The prisoners realise it, they sing much louder: the jailer has a weapon, pretty little one, the prisoners [have] the song, lalala.

Canteu, canteu bons presos! Canteu-ne la cançó contra la pau armada, petita bonica, la llei de l'invasor, lireta liró!

Sing, sing good prisoners! Sing the song against the armed peace pretty little one, the law of the invasor! lalala

“Per què brameu, sapastres, de què ve tan soroll? Què us falta menjar o beure?, petita bonica, o us quiten la ració? lireta liró.”

“Why do you roar, bunglers, what is all this noise about? Do you need food or drink?, pretty little one, or do they take away your ration? lalala.”

“No ens falta menjar i beure, senyor governador, lo que ens falta ho tindrem, petita bonica, les claus de la presó! lireta liró.”

“We do not lack food nor drink, mister governor, what we lack we will have, pretty little one, the keys of the prison! lalala.”

If you'd like to hear another beautiful traditional Catalan song about a prisoner's singing, click here to go to my post with the song Lo poder del cant with English translation.

[heavensdoorways]

Casa Pàdua, Barcelona, Spain,

Designed by Jeroni Granel y Manresa,

Photo by Miguel Borrell

[illustratus]

Full moon behind the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

[livesunique]

Casa Comalat, Barcelona, Cataluña, España

[allthingseurope]

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

[escapismsworld]

📍Sitges, along Catalonia's coastline, combines stunning beaches with captivating architecture. Its diverse designs, from Modernisme (exemplified by Casa Bacardí) to the Old Town's Mediterranean allure, showcase a rich heritage. Notable landmarks like the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla and opulent seafront mansions add to Sitges' architectural charm, making it a culturally rich and visually captivating destination.

📸: Yamil Doval

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Sepultura Canela, el Poblenou, Barcelona, Catalonia, España

[zsorosebudphoto]

Cementiri de Montjuïc, Barcelona, 18/10/22

[dead-dog-dip]

Hatsune Miku diu visca Catalunya

[orrinivalis]

the ridge

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Hermosa puerta en el Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu en BARCELONA

[useless-catalanfacts]

The small town of Alins, High Pyrenees, Catalonia.

Photos by pep_canet on Wikiloc and Turisme Pallars Sobirà.

[deep-down-in-drowsy-town]

There are a LOT of these so I’ll certainly do a part two:)