El Noi De La Mare

"El Noi De La Mare" or "Child of the Virgin" is an old Catalan Christmas folk song. It is often played on the guitar by classical guitarists.

Here is it sung:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSgm3z6rf0

And here is it played on the guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqRq_n9fh4k&feature=related

In case you want to sing along, here are the lyrics in Catalan:

Que li darem a n'el Noi de la Mare?
Que li darem li sapiga bon?
Li darem panses en unes balances,
Li darem figues en un panero.
Li darem panses en unes balances,
Li darem figues en un panero.

Que li darem al Fillet de Maria,
Que li darem a l'hermos Infanto?
Panses i figures i nuez i olives,
Panses i figures i mel i mato.
Panses i figures i nuez olives,
Panses i figures i mel i mato.

Tam patantam, que les figures son verdes,
Tam patantam, que ja maduraran.
Si no maduren el dia de Pasqua,
Maduraran en el dia del Ram.
Si no maduren el dia de Pasqua,
Maduraran en el dia del Ram.


And here are the lyrics in English:

What shall we give to the Son of the Virgin?
What can we give that the Babe will enjoy?
First, we shall give Him a tray full of raisins,
Then we shall offer sweet figs to the Boy.
First, we shall give Him a tray full of raisins,
Then we shall offer sweet figs to the Boy.

What shall we give the Beloved of Mary?
What can we give to her beautiful Child?
Raisins and olives and nutmeats and honey,
Candy and figs and some cheese that is mild.
Raisins and olives and nutmeats and honey,
Candy and figs and some cheese that is mild.

What shall we do if the figs are not ripened?
What shall we do if the figs are still green?
We shall not fret; if they're not ripe for Easter,
On a Palm Sunday, ripe figs will be seen.
We shall not fret, if they're not ripe for Easter,
On a Palm Sunday, ripe figs will be seen.

To Start Things Off

Let's start things off with a song called "Dedication" aka "Widmung" by Robert Franz. I believe it was written in 1841. It was originally a German song, but later, it was translated to English.

Here it is in German:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AacVkNWx_0I&feature=related

And here it is in english:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiaRGV-7UU

 In case you want to sing along or something here are the lyrics

German:

O danke nicht für diese Lieder,
Mir ziemt es dankbar dir zu sein;

Du gabst sie mir, ich gebe wieder,
Was jetzt und einst und ewig dein.

Dein sind sie alle ja gewesen;
Aus deiner lieben Augen Licht
Hab ich sie treulich abgelesen:
Kennst du die eignen Lieder nicht?

English:

Oh thank me not for songs I render,

Thanks I should give to thee alone;

Thou gav'st them me, I but repeat thee,

What now and then was always thine.

Thine are the all in every measure,

From out thine eyes they all have grown

Faithful I sought them as my treasure

Hast thou my love thy songs not known?

Hast thou my love thy songs not known.

Enjoy, or hate, or do whatever you please, but whatever you do, enjoy what you're doing.