Translation of the song Els contrabandistes artist Catalan Folk

Quina cançó cantarem

What song can we sing

Que tots la sapiguem?

That everyone among us will know?

La dels contrabandistes!

The one about the smugglers!

A Banyuls varen anar,

They went to Banyuls,

De tabac a carregar

To take a load of tobacco

Tota una companyia.

They were a full squadron.

I, en passant per Fortià,

And, as the travelled by Fortià,

Allí s'hi van topar

Right there they found

La refotuda espia!

A goddamned spy!

I a Figueres se'n va anar

And she went to Figueres

A explicar-ho al capità:

To tell everything to her captain:

- «He vist contrabandistes!»

- 'I've seen a band of smugglers!'

- «Bé m'en direu quants n'hi ha

- 'Of course, you will tell me how many they are

Vós, qui ja els heu vist tots!»

Since you've already seen them all!'

- «Quaranta n'he comptats,

- 'I have counted forty men,

Que anaven molt ben armats

And they were armed to their teeth

De trabucs i carabines.»

With blunderbusses and rifles.'

I el capità va endavant:

And the captain walks out:

Es posa, minyons comptant,

He starts, counting his men

- «Anem a perseguir-los!».

- 'Let's go and chase them!'.

I, en passant ja per Ceret,

And, as they were travelling by Ceret,

Allí pregunten per cert,

They ask everyone for the truth;

Si els havien vist tots...

Whether they had seen the smugglers...

La ra la rai-rai-rà...

La ra la rai-rai-ra...

Troben un senyor de bé

They meet a kind gentleman

Qui els advertí molt bé:

Who clearly warns them:

- «No aneu a perseguir-los!

- 'Don't go after them!

Car a tots us mataran

Because they shall kill you all

Per molt valents que sigau!

No matter how brave you might be!

Pas'neu a perseguir-los!»

Don't go an chase after them!'

I el capità va endavant...

And the captain goes aheaf...

- «Minyons, anem passant!

- 'My men, let's move on!

Anem a perseguir-los!

Let's give chase to them!

I enllà on els trobarem,

And wherever we may find them,

Baionetes pararem...

Will use our bayonets...

Farem carnisseria!».

We'll make a bloodbath!».

La ra la rai-rai-rà...

La ra la rai-rai-ra...

I, en passant per Galliners,

And, as they rose by Galliners,

Allí ja hi varen ésser

There came face to face

Amb els contrabandistes...

With the smugglers...

I els durets, a pilons

And the silver coins 1, in heaps

Allà hi anaven saltant...

Were piling up in that place...

Moneda molt bonica!

Such a beautiful currency!

La ra la rai-rai-rà...

La ra la rai-rai-ra...