Traditional
Quoi, Ma Voisine, Es-Tu Fachée? (Neighbour, Neighbour) [Live]
[Intro: Jane Siberry]
This is a song called "Neighbour, Neighbour."
Neighbour, neighbour, what–
[Verse 1: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
Neighbour, what has you so excited? Do tell me please
Haven't you heard a child is born that all want to see?
Son of a pure and modest virgin, Mary's her name
They say her baby is the savior prophets proclaim
[Verse 2: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
I would be pleased to go with you, so likely I'll go (All right)
But can we take our time to see him? Shop on the road?
Have you some cake to take the infant? Sugar-plums, too?
I'm sure that Mary's house is lovely, tidy and new
[Verse 3: Rebecca Campbell]
I am afraid that you're mistaken, wrong as can be
This blessed maiden has no splendid rich place to stay
For she lies within a wretched stable dirty and poor
There is no table for your presents, only the floor
[Verse 4: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
Surely she has a warm soft cradle there for the child
(No no, no no)
One has to rock and calm an infant so weak and so mild
What sort of guards and servants has she to give her aid?
Cannot the heavenly father's power help the poor maid?
[Verse 5: Rebecca Campbell]
All they could think to find for a cradle - a manger bed
Bundle of dusty, dry straw to pillow his head
Joseph, her husband, he cares for Mary best as he can
In place of servant, ox and donkey are looking on
[Bridge: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
Hey hey hey hey
You said she was a virgin and then you said she has a husband
There are many unexplained miracles in this happening
Maybe she had a husband and then still was a virgin
No no no no you don't understand
You shouldn't be focusing on the husband at this moment
Ah, I am French, I cannot dare
You're very fluent
Maybe we should talk to Mary when we get there
I talk to Mary
[Verse 6: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
Traveling tires me and this journey seems a long way
Only to see a newborn baby lying on hay
Maybe you shepherds find excitement in this affair
Hey, stop that!
But I am used to things much better in which to share
Oh, unh unh unh unh unh unh unh unh
Quoi?
[Verse 7: Rebecca Campbell]
You must not talk that way, my neighbor, mark what je, je dit
Upon my honour, this is our Saviour born on this day
It is His choice to come so humbly there in a stall
Granting his power and grace so gently to one and all
[Spoken: Jane Siberry]
I am so sorry, I must apologize. I feel I have made fun of a very important event. To you all, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I did not mean to make fun of anything so important and prophetic and profound.
[Verse 8: Jane Siberry and Rebecca Campbell]
O blessed mother, free us all from arrogant pride
May we, when life on earth is ended, hasten to your side
Daring to hope you will present us to your dear son
And that we'll gain the bliss and joy of paradise won
[Outro: Jane Siberry]
Thank you.
This next song is called Shir Amami and it's from an old Hebrew poem, which was set to music and arranged by, um, Frank London from The Klezmatics, who's with us tonight. And, uh, it was put out on a record called "Festival of Light" which is a collection of Hanukkah songs, related.