Songs of the Sahara: Five Touareg Poems

Translations © by Grant Hicks

Song Cycle by Maurice Jaubert (1900 - 1940)

View original-language texts alone: Chants sahariens: Cinq Poèmes touareg

1. O grand Dieu, je tends vers toi mes mains
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
O grand Dieu, je tends vers toi mes mains.
Je te fais cent mille prières.
O grand Dieu, je te demande trois grâces :
L'amour des jeunes filles, la vaillance dans les combats,
Et le pardon au jour de la résurrection.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. O great God, I raise my hands to you
Language: English 
O great God, I raise my hands to you. 
I make to you a hundred thousand prayers.
O great God, I ask of you three favors:
The love of young women, courage in battle, 
And forgiveness on the day of resurrection.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-10-08
Line count: 5
Word count: 41

Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. La nuit Passée, nous avons agenouiller nos chameaux
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
La nuit passée, nous avons agennouiller nos chameaux
Au pied des murs du village.
Nous nous étions fait un abri avec nos vêtements.
J'entendis soudain un air de musique joué par de belles
Jeunes filles qui venaient leur violon sur leurs genoux.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Last night, we had our camels kneel
Language: English 
Last night, we had our camels kneel
At the base of the village wall.
We had made ourselves a shelter out of our clothing.
Suddenly I heard a musical strain played by lovely 
Young ladies who were coming with their violins on their knees.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-10-08
Line count: 5
Word count: 44

Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Je regardais au ciel l'étoile du matin
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Je regardais au ciel l'étoile du matin,
En songeant dans mon âme à Tihit.
Je n'ai jamais vu cils au bord des paupières
Ni sourcils comme ceux de Tihit.
Sa peau est de la joie, son parfum égale celui du musc.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. I gazed at the morning star in the sky
Language: English 
I gazed at the morning star in the sky, 
Dreaming in my soul of Tihit. 
Never have I seen lashes at the edges of eyelids
Nor eyebrows like those of Tihit. 
His skin is made of joy, and his scent rivals that of musk.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-10-07
Line count: 5
Word count: 44

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. J'adore humblement les actes du Très‑Haut
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
J'adore humblement les actes du Très-Haut
Qui a donné au violon mieux qu'une âme
Au point que dès qu'il joue les hommes se taisent
Et que leurs mains rabattent leur voile
Pour cacher leur émotion.
Et soucis de l'amour étaient sur le point
De me mettre au tombeau
Mais grâce au violon, ô fils d'Aïchoum!
Dieu m'a rendu la vie.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. I humbly adore the deeds of the Most High
Language: English 
I humbly adore the deeds of the Most High
Who gave the violin something better than a soul
Such that when it plays men fall silent 
And their hands pull down their veils
To hide their emotion.
And the cares of love had nearly 
Put me in the grave 
But thanks to the violin, O son of Ayshum!
God has given me back my life.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-10-08
Line count: 9
Word count: 65

Translation © by Grant Hicks
5. Ô mon cousin germain, ô mon bien‑aimé!
 (Sung text)
Language: French (Français) 
Ô mon cousin germain, ô mon bien-aimé !
Autrefois je croyais que rien ne nous séparerait jamais.
Mais tes compagnons sont revenus
Disant que tu étais mort là-bas.
Je monte alors sur la colline
Où sera creusée ma tombe.
Sous un tas de pierres, j'y enterre mon coeur.
Ton odeur, je la sens entre mes seins :
Elle brûle mes os !

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. O my first cousin, O my beloved!
Language: English 
O my first cousin, O my beloved! 
I used to think that nothing would ever part us. 
But your companions have returned 
Saying that you were dead over there. 
So I am climbing up the hill
Where my grave will be dug.
I am burying my heart there, under a pile of rocks.
I sense your odor between my breasts:
It burns my bones!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2026-10-08
Line count: 9
Word count: 64

Translation © by Grant Hicks