Why should one listen

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by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Ruy Blas

(Sung text for setting by E. Chabrier)

See original

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

Composition:

Emmanuel Chabrier

Text Authorship:

by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "La Chanson des Lavandieres", appears in Ruy Blas, Act 2, Scene 1, first published 1838

See other settings of this text.

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

CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Jos. Van de Vijver) , "Serenade"
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright © 2016
SPA Spanish (Español) (Alberto Bonati) , "Para qué escuchar", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

(Sung text translation for setting by E. Chabrier)

See original

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

About the headline (FAQ)

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.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net

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