by Jules-Henri Vernoy, marquis de Saint-Georges (1801? - 1875)
Translation Singable translation by Samuel Byrne (flourished 1889)
Pourquoi pleurer?
Language: French (Français)
Un soir dans la forêt immense Je l'attendais les yeux en pleurs, Quand des bois perçant le silence J'entendis ces mots séducteurs: Pourquoi pleurer, pleurer, quand on est belle? Si l'on t'oublie, oublie à ton tour. Le coeur de l'homme est infidèle. Moi, j'aime d'éternel amour. Bientôt rayonnant de lumière Parut, tout à coup à mes yeux, Un être si parfait mon père, Qu'il me semblait venir des cieux. Pourquoi pleurer, pleurer, quand on est belle? Si l'on t'oublie, oublie à ton tour. Le coeur de l'homme est infidèle. Moi, j'aime d'éternel amour.
Authorship:
- by Jules-Henri Vernoy, marquis de Saint-Georges (1801? - 1875) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875), "Pourquoi pleurer", published 1886 [ high voice and piano ], from Seize mélodies pour chant et piano, no. 3, Paris, Éd. Choudens [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernest Tessier (1851 - 1909), as Ernest Lavigne, "Pourquoi pleurer?" [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Samuel Byrne) , "Why are you weeping?"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 93
Why are you weeping?
Language: English  after the French (Français)
One sultry ev'ning in the forest Awaiting him with tearful eyes, To my ears through the leafy silence Came these words in a tender tone: Why do you weep, weep, O lovely maiden? If he forgets, forget him too. The heart of man is false and faithless; But my love is forever true. Soon in the radiance of the moonlight There broke upon my wond'ring gaze A being of such perfect beauty He seemed to come down from the sky; Why do you weep, weep, O lovely maiden? If he forgets, forget him too. The heart of man is false and faithless; But my love is forever true.
From the Lavigne score.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Samuel Byrne (flourished 1889), "Why are you weeping?" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Jules-Henri Vernoy, marquis de Saint-Georges (1801? - 1875)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 108