Basque Songs

Song Cycle by Louis Durey (1888 - 1979)

View original-language texts alone: Chansons basques

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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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Note: an unpublished poem given to Durey by Cocteau.


by Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)
1. Prayer
Language: English 
 Holy Virgin Mary, have pity on the people
 Who return from war and who have no money.
 
 My wife loves another, she laughs in my face.
 My dog tries to bit me and has abandonned me.
 
 I'm called a drunkard and if I want wine
 They give me a little water with a bit of bread.
 
 Holy Virgin Mary, have pity on the people.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Victoria de Menil, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 7
Word count: 65

Translation © by Victoria de Menil
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

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.


by Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)
2. Polka
Language: English 
 Sirocco, pretty, warm-wind
 Put on your espadrilles
 Come into the white-washed room
 Of the young girl;
 Make her get out of bed
 And look for a husband
 In the city of Paris
 Far from her family.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Victoria de Menil, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Victoria de Menil
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

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.


by Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)
3. Attachment
Language: English 
 Two houses facing one another approach
 Carpets of flowers were put at their windows
 A large street lamp crowns them
 And sunny chandeliers
 Trail from their sad mouth on the way.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Victoria de Menil, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 5
Word count: 32

Translation © by Victoria de Menil