Song of the almah | Tell me, young captive

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by Philippe Gille (1831 - 1901)

Translation © by Garrett Medlock

Chant de l'almée

Language: French (Français)

Our translations: ENG

Dis-moi, jeune captive,
Qu’attends-tu sur la rive?
Est-ce un riche trésor,
Un vaisseau chargé d’or,
Qu’attends-tu sur la rive?

Sous le ciel qui s’étoile,
Vois-tu donc une voile
Qui s’avance et qui luit,
À l’horizon qui fuit, à l’horizon qui fuit?
Ah!

Danse, légère almée,
La brise est parfumée,
Chante, le gai tambour
Résonne encore.
Danse, légère almée,
La brise est parfumée,
Chante jusqu’à l’aurore,
Redis toujours ton chant d’amour!
Ah! chante, chante encore,
Chante nos amours.

Dis-moi, jeune captive,
Qu’attends-tu sur la rive?
Quel but mystérieux
Attire ainsi tes yeux,
Qu’attends-tu sur la rive?

Rien ne vaut sur la terre
Ce qu’en tremblant j’espère,
J’attends mon doux seigneur,
Il m’a donné son coeur, il m’a donné son coeur.
Ah!

Danse, légère almée...

Text Authorship:

by Philippe Gille (1831 - 1901) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Léo Delibes (1836 - 1891), "Chant de l'almée", published 1885 [ high voice and piano ], from Quinze mélodies, deux chœurs, no. 11, Éd. Hartmann & Cie. [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Garrett Medlock) , "Song of the almah", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2019-02-09
Line count: 31
Word count: 123

Song of the almah

Language: English after the French (Français)

Tell me, young captive,
What are you waiting for on the bank?
Is it a rich treasure,
A vessel laden with gold,
What are you waiting for on the bank?

Under the sky [studded with stars],
Do you see then a sail
Which advances and shines
On the horizon which flees?
Ah!

Dance, light almah,
The breeze is perfumed,
Sing, the gay drum
Resounds still.
Dance, light almah,
The breeze is perfumed,
Sing until the dawn,
Repeating always your song of love!
Ah! Sing again,
Sing [of] our loves.

Tell me, young captive,
What are you waiting for on the bank?
What mysterious aim
Draws so your eyes,
What are you waiting for on the bank?

Nothing is worth on the earth
That which in trembling I hope [for],
I await my sweet lord,
He has given me my heart.
Ah!

Dance, light almah...

Text Authorship:

Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2019 by Garrett Medlock, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in French (Français) by Philippe Gille (1831 - 1901)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2019-02-08
Line count: 31
Word count: 144