Mardil, son of Vorondil, first ruling steward of Gondor

tal-fajjenza x’qata ħa,

l-iskarpan telaq ix-xifa,

qattus nantek kemm int gifa.

li ninnamra mal-gadlajja,

allavolja xhebba kera,

guvintur gerrejt warajja.

That I frequent the port people.

Even though an ugly lady,

I had gentlemen courting me

nigi għalik bil-lejl,

ngħalaqlek kullimkien,

u nkeċċilek id-dubbien.

qasba żagarella,

ħija l-abatija,

bil-mustaċċi u s-sidrija.

Tal-imħar qabeż għalih,

Tar-rizzi tela’ jiġri,

Tal-imħar baqa’ fil-qiegħ.

W’minn hemm ma jigix b’ġibda

Ħanini mar Bufies,

Minn hemm ma jiġux nies.

b’żagarella marbutin,

Il-mewt trid tkun għalina,

biex tifridna minn xulxin.

ommi mir-raħal,

missieri miż-Żejtun,

x’tara ħmara w karettun.

Il-karettun ma jiswa xejn,

Il-ħmara tiswa habtejn.

fejn gidimni ma ngħidlekx,

gidimni banda ħażina,

taħt iċ-ċinta tad-dublett.

I won’t tell you where it bit me.

It bit me in a wrong place,

Under the skirt’s waist.

gie il-bajjad ibajjadieli.

Saddli it-toqob kollha,

u ta’ wara ħallijieli.

I asked a painter to colour it up.

He plastered all the holes,

But left open my back one.

issa x’namel biex ninkieh?

Naqbad ieħor aħjar minnu,

W’minn quddiemu ngħaddi bih.

What shall I do to tease him?

I will find one better than him,

And with him pass in front of him.

Caqqufa hsibta xelin.

W’in-nies tat-Triq il-Gdida,

Kollha borom imgiddmin.

I mistook a piece of pottery for a penny.

And all the road’s people,

Have very dirty pots

mħadda salib,

min iħobb il-bambin ċkejken…

U mal-pacenzja tini l-flus.

Mal-flus tini d-dota`,

U mad-dota` tini l-gharus.

And with patience give me money.

With money give me dowry,

And with dowry give me a man.

Kilt il-għeneb mhux misjur,

Iddendilt  mal-kannizzata,

Qisni l-kelb tal-kaċċatur.

I ate unripe grapes

I climbed onto the woodwork

Like a hunter’s dog

Jiena qbadt il-bieb u ħrigt,

Kif ilwejt il-kantuniera,

Tajtu l-kelma w iżżewwigt.

I took to the door and left

Just as I turned the corner

I gave him my word and married

Fuq il-bejt tal-gvernatur,

Meta tasal fuq il-mina,

Tamel Pim, Pam, Pum.

On the major’s rooftop.

When it arrives under the tunnel,

It makes a loud noise Pin, Pam, Pum.

Kemm jixbħu l-baħar bnazzi,

Jekk iddur id-dinja kollha,

Ma ssibx oħra tħobbok daqsi.

So alike to calm seas

Had you to tour the entire world

You won’t find another who loves you as much

Zija Mer għidli kemm hu,

Zija Mer għidli m’nejn xtrajtu,

Ħalli nixtri wieħed Blu.

Auntie Mary how much does it cost?

I want to buy one like it,

I want to buy a blue one.

Ġo fiha daħal ġurdien.

Ma kellux min jaqbadulu,

Daħħalt idi w’qbadtu jien.

Kull fejn imur iżoqquwuli.

Puh għalih għal żaqqu jagħmel,

Għad xi darba joqtluwuli.

Jisirqu l-enemel,

Tad-demolition

Jisirqu l-għaġina,

Tal- Victory Kitchen.

Minn tas-Sliema għal Marsamxett,

Il-kaptan  bil-pipa f’ħalqu,

Jidderigi l-bastiment.

Sewwa sewwa f’nofs ta’  baħar,

Il-kaptan ħassu ħażin,

Ma kellux min idur miegħu,

Daru miegħu il-baħrin.

…(x2)

Għamillu karta,

Għamillu karta,

Għamillu karta għal tax-xjuħ.

Talli tajtu tuta tajba.

Trid tarah lil Toni tagħna

tiela’ it-tela tat-Tintillu.

‘Ta’ Toni, tin tlieta tonn.

Tatinix tonn tinten, tin tonn tajjeb,

ta’ Ton.’

because I gave him a good berry.

You should see our Tony

going up the Tintillu hill.

‘Hey Ton, give me 3 tuna fish.

Don’t give me smelly tuna, give me good tuna,

please Ton.’

fil-ponta tal-ponta ta’ mnieħru.

Jhonny Ponta deffes il ponta tal-labra,

fil-ponta tal-ponta ta’ mnieħru.

Jhonny Ponta mingħajr il-ponta, deher aħjar.

U mat-pespisa tal-pespus,

Il-pespusa pespset.

And, on the male pipit’s hiss,

The female pipit hissed.

mar biex jixtri l-platti ċatti;

mela f’Batti Platti m’andux platti ċatti

biex mar jixtri l-platti ċatti

bod minn artu Batti Platti.

Mela fl-Ingilterra m’hemmx terra

Biex ir-re ta’ l-Ingilterra,

gie Malta jixtri t-terra

Mela f’Napli m’hemmx papri

Biex patri minn Na

pli mar Kapri għall-papri