Translation of the song Scottis artist Sardinian & Corsican Folk

Chistu baddhu, a cantu pari,

This dance, seemingly,

era danza rusticana

was a country dance

di la Scòzia luntana

of the distant Scotland,

ch’è sbalcata da lu mari cent’anni sarà.

landed from the sea one hundred years ago or so.

Da un séculu in Gaddhura

For one century, in Gallura

v’è lu baddhu chi ogghj ammiri.

there has been the dance you’re admiring today.

Sedici tra passi e ghjri,

Sixteen steps and twirls

illu scottis a misura ghjusta si dè fa.

in the Scottis have to be done in the right way.

Fatt’un passu v’è l’inchinu,

After a step, you make a curtsy,

deci passi laterali,

then ten steps aside,

cattru ghjri illu finali

four quick twirls in the end

lestri e di cuntinu torr’à cumincià.

and then start over again.

Lestri baddhu chi si baddha

It’s a fast dance that is danced

zitti zitti, cor’à cori;

very quietly, heart to heart

so sbucciati tanti amori

so many romances have blossomed

cor’à cori, spaddha a spaddha senza cuntrastà.

heart to heart, shoulder to shoulder, with no troubles.

Senza dissi mancu muttu,

Without saying a word,

zitti, ma tra ghjri e passi

quietly, but with twirls and steps

li so cori lu di fassi

their hearts have already said

s’hani dittu suttu suttu tuttu illu baddhà.

what to do, stealthily, all while dancing.

Baddhu a tempu di sunettu

Dance to the beat of the accordion

o di rittimu cantatu

or to the rhythm of singing,

da tinori accumpagnatu

accompanied by polyphonic voices

lestri e di cuntinu torr’à cumincià.

and start over again straight.