Walcourt | Bricks and tiles

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by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)

Translation © by Laura Prichard

Walcourt

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG

Briques et tuiles,
Ô les charmants
Petits asiles
Pour les amants !

Houblons et vignes,
Feuilles et fleurs,
Tentes insignes
Des francs buveurs !

Guinguettes claires,
Bières, clameurs,
Servantes chères
À tous fumeurs !

Gares prochaines,
Gais chemins grands...
Quelles aubaines,
Bons juifs errants !

Note provided by Laura Prichard: In 1871, Verlaine met the poet Rimbaud, and then left his wife Mathilde for him, traveling together for three years. This poem [set in Walcourt, Belgium] describes their amorous adventures on the road.

Text Authorship:

by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Walcourt", written 1873, appears in Romances sans paroles, in Paysages belges, no. 1 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Théotiste-Catule-Jérôme Carlin (1903 - 1952), "Walcourt", published 1943 [ voice and piano ], Paris, Théo-Carlin [sung text not yet checked]
by Lucien Mawet (1875 - 1947), "Walcourt", published 1921 [ voice and piano ], Paris, L. Mawet [sung text not yet checked]
by Georges (Jerzy) Nawrocki , "Walcourt", 1971/1972 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
by Jósef-Zygmunt Szulc (1875 - 1956), "Walcourt", op. 83 (Dix mélodies sur des poésies de Verlaine) no. 2, published 1907 [ voice and piano ], Paris, Rouart Lerolle [sung text not yet checked]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Arthur Grüber.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Walcourt", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2012-02-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 41

Walcourt

Language: English after the French (Français)

Bricks and tiles,
Oh, what charming
Little hidden refuges [they create]
For lovers!

Hops and vines,
Leaves and flowers,
Remarkable little bowers [can shelter]
For the serious drinker!

Brightly painted outdoor taverns,
Beers, cheers,
[Are brought by] well-paid waitstaff
To all the smokers!

Nearby railway stations,
Fine, wide streets...
What boons
To Wandering Jews!

Translator's note for Stanza 4, Line 4, "Wandering Jew" is a reference to the legendary shoemaker condemned to wander the Earth.

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Walcourt", written 1873, appears in Romances sans paroles, in Paysages belges, no. 1
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2023-09-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 54