PERQUÉ M'AN PAS DIT (1972) (Claude Marti – 1940 - ) Coma totis los mainatges Som anat a l’escòla Coma a totis los mainatges M’an aprés a legir M’an cantat plan de cançons M’aprenguèron tant d’istòrias Lutèce*... Paris... Paris     Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    Perqué m’an pas dit    Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    Lo nom de mon païs ? Nos contava lo regent Aquel grand rei de França Acaptat davant los paures Un sant òme aquel sant Loïs Aimava tota la gent E voliá pas la misèria Un sant òme aquel sant Loïs    Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    Perqué m’an pas dit    Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    Qu’aviá tuat mon païs ? E quand foguèrem mai grands Nos calguèt parlar tres lengas Per far un bon tecnician Nos caliá cargar tres lengas E l’anglés e l’alemand E çò que s’escriu a Roma Per far un bon tecnician    Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    Perqué m’an pas dit    Mas perqué, perqué    M’an pas dit a l’escòla    La lenga de mon païs ? Benlèu tantas coneissenças Nos mascan la vertat Aprendrem sols qu’en la terra Reina pas la libertat Sauprem la talent de l’India E lo dòl dels Africans E la mòrt de Guevara    Mas perqué, perqué    An pas dit a l’escòla    Perqué an pas dit    Mas perqué, perqué    An pas dit a l’escòla    Lo nom de nòstre païs ?

WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL ME Like all the children I went to school Like all the children I was taught how to read, They sang me many songs, They taught me so many stories, Lutèce… Paris… Paris    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school,    Why didn't they tell me,    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school    The name of my country? The teacher would tell us About this great king of France, Lowering himself before the poor, A holy man, that Saint Louis, He loved everybody And didn't want poverty, A holy man, that Saint Louis,    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school,    Why didn't they tell me,    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school    That he'd killed my country? And when we grew up, We had to speak three languages To be a good technician, We had to learn three languages, English and German And what is written in Rome To be a good technician.    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school,    Why didn't they tell me,    But why, why    Didn't they tell me at school    The language of my country? Maybe so much knowledge Hides the truth from us, We'll learn by ourselves that on earth, Liberty doesn't reign We'll know about India's hunger, The Africans' pain And Guevara's death.    But why, why    Didn't they tell at school,    Why didn't they tell,    But why, why    Didn't they tell at school    The name of our country?

*Lutèce was the name of Paris in Romans' times (= till the 5th century), it then took its name from the Parisii Gaulish tribe who inhabited the city)

Recording by Marti

Back to Index