by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
Translation by André Gide (1869 - 1951)

I am here to sing thee songs
Language: English  after the Bangla (Bengali) 
Our translations:  FRE
I am here to sing thee songs.
In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.

In thy world I have no work to do;
My useless life can only break out 
in tunes without a purpose.

When the hour strikes for thy silent worship
at the dark temple of midnight,
command me, my master, 
to stand before thee to sing.

When in the morning air,
the golden harp is tuned,
honour me, commanding my presence.

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

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je suis ici pour chanter des chants", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-01-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 77

Je suis ici pour te chante de chanson
 (Sung text for setting by E. Barraine)
 Matches original text
Language: English  after the English 
Je suis ici pour te chanter des chansons. 
Dans cette salle qui est tienne j’ai un coin où m’asseoir.

Je suis tout désœuvré dans ton monde ; 
mon inutile vie ne sait que se répandre 
en accords sans suite.

Quand pour ton culte muet, 
au temple ténébreux de minuit, 
sonnera l’heure, commande-moi, mon Maître, 
et je me lèverai devant toi pour chanter.

Quand, dans l’air matinal, 
sera accordée la harpe d’or, 
alors, daigne commander ma présence.

Composition:

    Set to music by Elsa Barraine (1910 - 1999), "Je suis ici pour te chante de chanson", published 1931 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Paris, Enoch

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 75