"La Cambo me fai mau" is a Christmas Carol written and composed by Nicolas Saboly (Monteux, 30th January 1614 – Avignon, 25th July 1675). It's well known in Provence (France). This is our rendition and personal (re)interpretation of this peculiar traditional piece. The text tells the story of a shepherd who asked that his horse was saddled so that he could go and greet the newborn Jesus, hoping to relieve a persistent pain in his leg. Along the way, the pastor met several characters. When he finally saw "the Son of God the Father" (lou Fiéu de Diéu lou Paire), his leg was healed.

Among the many recorded versions, the one from the traditional / progressive / folk group Malicorne called "Noël est arrivé" (from "Almanach" album, dated 1976) - sung in French - is worth of mention. We also remember the one from Mireille Mathieu (from "Le Marvelous Petit Monde" album, dated 1968).

The following lyrics are in Provençal, although there are other versions in Languedoc as well.

"Li a proun de gènt
Que van en roumavage,
Li a proun de gènt
Que van en Betelèn.
Li vole ana,
Ai quàsi proun courage:
Li vole ana,
S'ieu pode camina.

[Refrin]
La cambo me fai mau,
Bouto sello, bouto sello;
La cambo me fai mau,
Bouto sello à moun chivau.

Tous li bergié
Qu'èron sus la mountagno,
Tous li bergié
An vist un messagié
Que li a crida:
Metès-vous en campagno!
Que li a crida:
Lou Fiéu de Diéu es na!

[Refrin]

En aquest tèm
Li fèbre soun pas sano;
En aquest tèm
Li fèbre valon rèn;
Ai endura
Uno fèbre quartano,
Ai endura
Senso me rancura.

[Refrin]

Un gros pastras
Que fai la catamiaulo,
Un gros pastras
S'envai au pichot pas;
S'èi revira,
Au brut de ma paraulo;
S'èi revira,
Li ai di de m'espera.

[Refrin]

Aquéu palot
Descausso si sabato,
Aquéu palot
S'envai au grand galop;
Mai, se'n cop l'ai,
lé dounarai la grato,
Mai, se'n cop l'ai,
Iéu lou tapoutarai.

[Refrin]

Ai un roussin
Que volo dessus terro,
Ai un roussin
Que manjo lou camin!
L'ai achata
D'un que vèn de la guerro:
L'ai achata,
Cinq escut de pata.

[Refrin]

Quand aurai vist
Lou Fiéu de Diéu lou Paire,
Quand aurai vist
Lou Rèi de Paradis,
E quand aurai
Felicila sa maire
E quand aurai
Fa tout ço que déurrai...

[Refrin]
N'aurai plus ges de mau,
Bouto seIlo, bouto selIo,
N'aurai plus ges de mau,
Bouto sello à moun chivau.