Songs from the Chinese

Song Cycle by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

1. The big chariot
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Don’t help -- on the big chariot;
You will only make yourself dusty.
Don’t think about the sorrows of the world;
You will only make yourself wretched.

Don’t help -- on the big chariot;
You won’t be able to see for dust.
Don’t think about the sorrows of the world;
Or you will never escape from your despair.

Don’t help -- on the big chariot;
You’ll be stifled with dust.
Don’t think about the sorrows of the world;
You will only load yourself with care.

Text Authorship:

  • by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), "The big chariot", first published 1946

Based on:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Arthur Waley, Chinese Poems, 2005 (first published 1946), Oxfordshire: Routledge, p. 34.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. The Old Lute
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Of cord and cassia-wood is the lute compounded;
Within it lie ancient melodies.
Ancient melodies -- weak and savourless,
Not appealing to present men’s taste.
Light and colour are faded from the jade stops:
Dust has covered the rose-red strings.
Decay and ruin came to it long ago,
But the sound that is left is still cold and clear.
I do not refuse to play it, if you want me to:
But even if I play, people will not listen.

How did it come to be neglected so?
Because of the Ch'iang flute and the zithern of Ch'in.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Note: in Arthur Waley's book, the final line has the following footnote: "Barbarous modern instruments".

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Jonathan Leathwood

3. The autumn wind
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Autumn wind rises; white clouds fly.
Grass and trees wither; geese go south.
Orchids all in bloom; chrysanthemums smell sweet.
I think of my lovely lady; I never can forget.
Floating pagoda-boat crosses Fēn river;
Across the mid-stream white waves rise;
Flute and drum keep time to sound of rower's song;
Amidst revel and feasting, sad thoughts come;
Youth's years how few! Age how sure!

Text Authorship:

  • by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), "The Autumn Wind", first published 1946

Based on:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. The herd‑boy
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
In the southern village the boy who minds the ox
With his naked feet stands on the ox’s back.
Through the hole in his coat the river wind blows;
Through his broken hat the mountain rain pours.
On the long dyke he seemed to be far away;
In the narrow lane suddenly we were face to face.
The boy is home and the ox is back in its stall;
And a dark smoke oozes through the thatched roof.

Text Authorship:

  • by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), "The herd-boy", first published 1946

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

5. Depression
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Turned to jade are the boy’s rosy cheeks;
To his sick temples the frost of winter clings.
Do not wonder that my body sinks to decay;
Though my limbs are old, my heart is older yet.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

6. Dance song
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The unicorn’s hoofs! The unicorn’s hoofs!
The duke’s sons throng, the duke’s sons throng.
Alas for the unicorn! Alas for the unicorn!
Alas!
The unicorn’s brow! The unicorn’s brow!
The duke’s kinsmen throng.
The duke’s kinsmen throng.
Alas for the unicorn! Alas for the unicorn!
Alas!
The unicorn’s horn! The unicorn’s horn!
The unicorn’s horn!
The duke’s clans-men throng.
The duke’s clans-men throng.
Alas for the unicorn!
Alas!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 426