Chansons basques

Song Cycle by Louis Durey (1888 - 1979)

Translated to:

English — Basque Songs
German (Deutsch) — Baskische Lieder (Bertram Kottmann)

1. Prière
 (Sung text)

Language: French (Français) 
Sainte Vierge Marie, ayez pitié des gens
Qui reviennent de guerre et qui n'ont pas d'argent.

Ma femme en aime un autre, elle me rit au nez.
Mon chien cherche à me mordre et m'a abandonné.

On me traite d'ivrogne et si je veux du vin,
On me donne un peu d'eau avec un bout de pain.

Sainte Vierge Marie, ayez pitié des gens.

Text Authorship:

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

  • ENG English (Victoria de Menil) , "Prayer", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Gebet", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Note: an unpublished poem given to Durey by Cocteau.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Polka
 (Sung text)

Language: French (Français) 
Sirocco, joli vent chaud,
Mets tes espadrilles,
Entre dans la chambre en chaux
De la jeune fille;
Fais-la sortir de son lit
Et se chercher un mari,
Dans la ville de Paris,
Loin de sa famille.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

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

  • ENG English (Victoria de Menil) , "Polka", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Polka", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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: an unpublished poem given to Durey by Cocteau.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Attelage
 (Sung text)

Language: French (Français) 
Deux maisons de travers approchent.
On a mis des tapis à fleurs sur les fenêtres.
Un grand candélabre les couronne
et des lustres ensoleillés
traînent de leur bouche triste sur la route.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

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

  • ENG English (Victoria de Menil) , "Attachment", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Gespann", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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: an unpublished poem given to Durey by Cocteau.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 132