An Anidroc Production 2014
Lyrics by Mario Cordina for Lejla Maltija
Fejn hu Pawlu tal-pitrolju, tal-kaxxa tal-qroqqa?
Fejn hu tar-rizzi, u fejn hu tas-silġ tal-blokka?
Ħajja il-volpi u jaqbez il-ħut
Għajnu ħamra it-tonn, Żabbarija it-tut.
Where is Paul the petrol seller, the hawker with the box for the laying hen?
Where is the sea urchin vendor and the ice block seller?
The volpi is alive and the fish leaps.
The tuna’s eyes are red, The black berries are from Zabbar.
The gasoline seller who would sell gasoline mainly for use in heaters during the winter months and other household appliances. Sometimes he would also sell gas cylinders for cookers. The qroqqa, the laying hen guaranteed the freshest eggs available. Sea urchins make a very tasty seafood dish, whilst the ice blog was the only way to preserve food stuffs in people's home in the Maltese summer. This was the customary pitching cry of the fish hawker, that the fish are so fresh that they are still alive and jumping, that the tuna’s eyes are still red and not glassy as is the case with fish caught the previous day.
Fejn hu Ġianni tal-ħaxix, bil-karretun,
U tal-ħobż frisk, minn haż-Żejtun?
Fejn hi Ċettina bill-kawwara, mimlija bill-kappar?
Ħallas meta tista’,
Imma il-ħin kif tar.
Where is Gianni, the vegetable seller, with his cart,
The baker with his fresh bread from Zejtun?
Where is Ċettina with the kawwara, full of capers?
Pay when you can, But how time has flown. (The vegetable seller normally came around with his donkey carring a cart laden with the latest harvest. The kawwara was a head dress in which goods could be carried and later placed on the ground for customers to choose their kapers or other goods. ‘Pay when you can,’ was a customary way of dealing between customer and seller. The sellers came to the village, even to their customer’s homes and the relationship was one of mutual trust and friendship.
Fejn marru, il-pjazza baħħ.
Baħħ, baħħ, baħħ.
Where have they gone?
The village square is empty.
Empty, empty, empty.
Fejn hu tal-pastiżżi, sħan u tajbin,
Tlett soldi il-wieħed, erba xelin.
Hawn tal-ġelati, tal-luminati,
Biċ-ċirasa fin-nods,
Bil-lewz u iċ-ċikkulati.
Where is the pastizzi seller, warm and delicious,
Three pence for one, four for a shilling.
Here’s the ice-cream seller, the soft drinks seller,
With the cherry in the middle,
With nuts and chocolate.
The pastizzi can be said to be the most favourite pastry amongst the Maltese, filled with ricotta or peas. They are still popular today, although they are rarely sold in the streets now. The ice-cream sellers still take to the streets, although they normally use vending vans now.) Fejn hu ‘l-landier, ramm u hadid, Tal- halib tal moghza, u Wenzu ta l imbid, Fejn hu tal-bajtar, tal-bajtar tax-xewk, L’għajta nofs il-bejgħ, Fejn marru ghalfejn hallewk? Where’s the tin-man, brass and steel, The goat milk vendor and Wenzu the wine seller? Where is the bajtar seller, the bajtar with thorns, The pitch is half a seller’s success, Where did they go to, why did they forsake you? (The tinker or tin-man would visit each village and many would be waiting for him to repair their utensils and pots. He normally sharpened knives and rendered other services. The milk vendor would come around with his goats and milk them in front of his clients who would bring their own bottles and cans. The bajtar is the prickly pear which is much appreciated by the Maltese. Literally, this Maltese saying means that the selling pitch is equivalent to a half sold product.
For more information about Maltese street vendors check this blog.
Watch Il-Pjazza Baħħ performed live by Lejla Maltija on Anidroc Tube.
Check the link below.
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