by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896)
Translation Singable translation by Karl Bulcke (1875 - 1936)
Le ciel est, par‑dessus le toit
Language: French (Français)
Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit, Si bleu, si calme ! Un arbre, par-dessus le toit, Berce sa palme. La cloche, dans le ciel qu'on voit, Doucement tinte. Un oiseau sur l'arbre qu'on voit Chante sa plainte. Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, la vie est là Simple et tranquille. Cette paisible rumeur-là Vient de la ville. Qu'as-tu fait, ô toi que voilà Pleurant sans cesse, Dis, qu'as-tu fait, toi que voilà, De ta jeunesse ?
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 6, Paris, Société générale de Librairie Catholique, first published 1881
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CHI Chinese (中文) (Yen-Chiang Che) , "監禁", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Píseň"
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright © 2016
- ENG English (Ernest Christopher Dowson) , no title, appears in Decorations, in After Paul Verlaine, no. 4
- ENG English (Amy Pfrimmer) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Il cielo, lassù oltre il tetto", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (José Miguel Llata) , "Desde la prisión", copyright © 2013, (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: 72
Klarer Himmel See original
Language: German (Deutsch) after the French (Français)
Blau liegt und klar der Himmel Und auf der Welt ist Ruh Ein Baum wiegt seine Äste und schläft und träumt wie du. Ein Glockenklang gen Himmel In seligem Frieden zieht Und hoch in dem Baum singt klagend Ein Vogel ein kleines Lied. O Gott wie ist das Leben so feierlich und schlicht? Es hebt ein Laut sich leise, Es klingt, und stört dich nicht. Mein Freund, was kommen auf einmal so heisse Thränen dich an? Mein armer Freund, was hast du mit deiner Jugend gethan?
Composition:
- Set to music by Erkki Gustaf Melartin (1875 - 1937), "Klarer Himmel", op. 42 (7 Lieder mit Klavier) no. 6 (1900?) [ voice and piano ], source: MS, also set in French (Français)
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Karl Bulcke (1875 - 1936), "Klarer Himmel", appears in Die Töchter der Salome, in Vermischte Gedichte
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), no title, written 1880, appears in Sagesse, in Sagesse III, no. 6, Paris, Société générale de Librairie Catholique, first published 1881
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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2012-02-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 90