Why should one listen

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by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

À quoi bon entendre

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: CHI ENG SPA

À quoi bon entendre
Les oiseaux des bois ?
L'oiseau le plus tendre
Chante dans ta voix.

Que Dieu montre ou voile
Les astres des cieux !
La plus pure étoile
Brille dans tes yeux.

Qu'avril renouvelle
Le jardin en fleur !
La fleur la plus belle
Fleurit dans ton cœur.

Cet oiseau de flamme,
Cet astre du jour,
Cette fleur de l'âme,
S'appelle l'amour !

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• E. Chabrier

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Text Authorship:

by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "La Chanson des Lavandieres", appears in Ruy Blas, Act 2, Scene 1, first published 1838 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Researcher for this page: Ted Perry

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 63

Why should one listen

NOTE: the footnotes have been removed from this text; return to general view

Language: English after the French (Français)

Why should one listen
To the birds of the wood?
The most tender bird
Sings in your voice.

Let God reveal or hide
The stars in the sky!
The most pure star
Shines in your eyes.

Let April renew
The flowering garden!
The most lovely flower
Blossoms in your heart.

This bird of passion,
This star of day,
This flower of the soul -
It is called Love!

About the headline (FAQ)

View text with all available footnotes
Translation of title "À la bien aimée" = "To the beloved"

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2016 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive
For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:

a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "La Chanson des Lavandieres", appears in Ruy Blas, Act 2, Scene 1, first published 1838
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general view

This text was added to the website: 2016-01-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 68