English translations of Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano, opus 30

by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922)

1. Te souviens‑tu du baiser  [sung text not yet checked]
by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922), "Te souviens-tu du baiser", op. 30 (Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 1, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff
Language: French (Français) 
Te souviens-tu du baiser,
Du premier que je vins prendre ?
Tu ne sus pas refuser,
Mais tu n'osas pas le rendre.

Te souviens-tu du baiser,
Du dernier que je vins prendre ?
Tu n'osas pas refuser ;
Mais tu ne sus pas le rendre.

Text Authorship:

  • by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926), "Te souviens-tu du baiser ?", written 1877, appears in Les Caresses, in 4. Nivôse, no. 27, Paris, Éd. M. Dreyfous, first published 1882

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Confirmed with Les caresses, Nouvelle Édition, Paris, G. Charpentier, [no date], page 273.


by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926)
1.
Language: English 
Do you recall the kiss,
the first one I came and stole?
You did not know how to refuse,
but did not dare kiss me back.

Do you recall the kiss,
the last one that I gave you?
You did not dare to refuse,
but you chose not to kiss me back.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2022 by Peter Low, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2022-08-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 52

Translation © by Peter Low
2. Le ciel est transi  [sung text not yet checked]
by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922), "Le ciel est transi", op. 30 (Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 2, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff
Language: French (Français) 
Le ciel est transi.
Sur la terre nue
La neige est venue.
Sur mon cœur aussi.

Dans l'air obscurci
Les feuilles dernières
Roulent aux ornières.
Mon bonheur aussi.

Il fait froid ici.
Les cailles, les grives,
Ont quitté nos rives.
Ma maîtresse aussi.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Les caresses, Nouvelle Édition, Paris, G. Charpentier, [no date], page 217.


by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926)
2. Winter's day
Language: English 
The sky is numb.
On the naked earth
The snow has come...
On my heart too.

In the darkened air
The last leaves
Roll in the ruts.
My happiness too.

It is cold here.
The quails, the thrushes,
Have left our shores.
My mistress too.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2007 by Corinne Orde, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2007-11-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 45

Translation © by Corinne Orde
3. Tu me demandes, rieuse curieuse  [sung text not yet checked]
by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922), "Tu me demandes, rieuse curieuse", op. 30 (Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 3, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff
Language: French (Français) 
Tu me demandes, rieuse 
Curieuse, 
Combien de jours il y a, 
Combien de jours que je t'aime? 
Prends toi même 
La branche d'acacia, 

Prends et casse cette branche 
Toute blanche 
De fleurs moins blanches que toi, 
Compte les fleurs et les feuilles 
Que tu cueilles 
Une par une, et dis-moi 

Combien les fleurs et les feuilles 
Que tu cueilles 
Sont sur tout l'acacia; 
Alors, depuis que je t'aime 
Dis toi-même
Combien de jours il y a.

Text Authorship:

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by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926)
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Où vivre ? Dans quelle ombre étonffer mon ennui?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922), "Où vivre ? Dans quelle ombre étonffer mon ennui?", op. 30 (Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 4, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff
Language: French (Français) 
Où vivre ? Dans quelle ombre
Étouffer mon ennui ?
Ma tristesse est plus sombre
  Que la nuit.

Où mourir ? [Sous]1 quelle onde
Noyer mon deuil amer ?
Ma peine est plus profonde
  Que la mer.

Où fuir ? De quelle [sorte]2
Égorger mon [remord]3 ?
Ma douleur est plus forte
  Que la mort.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Les caresses, Nouvelle Édition, Paris, G. Charpentier, [no date], page 249.

1 Vierne: "Dans"
2 Vierne: "honte"
3 Vierne: "remords"

by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926)
4. Anguish
Language: English 
Where live? In what shadow
Stifle my boredom?
My sadness is darker
Than the night.

Where die? Under what wave
Drown my bitter mourning?
My sorrow is deeper
Than the sea.

Where flee? In what manner
Slaughter my remorse?
My pain is stronger
Than death.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2007 by Corinne Orde, (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: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2007-11-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 45

Translation © by Corinne Orde
5. Il pleut, il pleut bergère  [sung text not yet checked]
by Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sokolov (1859 - 1922), "Il pleut, il pleut bergère", op. 30 (Cinq Mélodies pour Chant et Piano) no. 5, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Belaieff
Language: French (Français) 
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère : 
Vos beaux doigts ont-ils pris 
Une feuille légère 
Pour nous mettre à l'abri ? 

Il pleut sous la ramie... 
Ma mie aux yeux si doux. 
Il pleut des pleurs ma mie, 
Pourquoi donc pleurez-vous? 

Je remets ma couronne 
De roses en vos doigts ; 
Ne pleurez pas mignonne 
Le loup est mort au bois. 

Contons-nous folles choses, 
Laissez-moi parler bas ; 
Vos agneaux et vos roses 
Ne vous trahiront pas. 

Car j'ai l'amour légère 
Et suis gai chevalier... 
Il ne pleut plus, bergère
Voulez-vous m'oublier ?

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Tristan Klingsor, Le Valet de cœur. Poèmes, Paris, Société du Mercure de France, 1908, pages 20-21.


by Arthur Justin Léon Leclère (1874 - 1966), as Tristan Klingsor
5.
[Translation not yet available]