by Jean Richepin (1849 - 1926)
Translation © by Laura Prichard

Pâle et blonde
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  ENG
Pâle et blonde,
trés pâle et très blonde,
ô mon coeur,
C'est ainsi que tu l'aimes.
Lorsque sur toi l'ennui comme un condor vainqueur
Étends ses ailes blêmes,
Lorsque tu sens en toi monter le goût amer
Des voluptés passées,
Lorsque tu voudrais bien boire toute la mer
Pour noyer les pensées,
Lorsqu'un désir te prend,
frénétique et moqueur, 
De t'en aller du monde,
Pâle et blonde,
trés pâle et très blonde,
ô mon coeur,
Tu l'aimes pâle et blonde;
Pâle et blonde comme est la fille d'un vieillard,
Née au mois de décembre.
Aussi pâle qu'un clair de lune en un brouillard,
Aussi blonde que l'ambre;
Pâle et blond et laissant autour d'elle neiger,
Plus blancs que de la laine,
Ses cheveux d'argent fin, clair, mousseux et léger,
Que dissipe une haleine;
Pâle et blonde,
trés pâle et très blonde, elle est là
Qui sanglotte à ta porte.
Laisse-la donc entrer chez toi, va, laisse-la,
Laisse, qu'elle t'emporte!
C'est elle, la bonne ale.
Allons, tends-lui ton cou,
Ouvre ta bouche entière,
Et mets la bière en toi!
Tu mets du même coup
Ton ennui dans la bière.

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

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

  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "Pale and blonde", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 188

Pale and blonde
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
Pale and blonde,
very pale and very blonde,
oh, my dear,
That’s how you like it.
When you’re struck by boredom like a triumphant condor
Spreading its pale wings,
When you feel your bitter gorge rising
From past excesses,
When you’d like to drink the whole sea
To drown your thoughts,
When desire takes you,
frenetic and mocking, 
To get away from the world,
Pale and blonde,
very pale and very blonde,
oh, my heart,
You want something pale and blonde;
Pale and blonde like the daughter of an old man,
Born in the month of December.
As pale as moonlight in fog,
As blonde as amber;
Pale and blond, like snow is falling all around her,
Whiter than wool,
Her hair of fine silver, clear, shining and luminous,
Which takes your breath away;
Pale and blonde,
very pale and very blonde, she’s there - the one
Who sobs at your door.
Let her into your house, go, let her in,
Let her in, she'll take your breath away!
It is she, the good ale.
Let’s go, stick your neck out,
Open your mouth wide,
And drink down that beer!
You can drown
Your ennui in beer.

Translator's note: The author Jean Richepin was condemned to one month in prison and a 500 franc fine for publishing his poetry collection Chansons des gueux (Songs of the Wretched, 1876). “Gueux” comes from the old French word “queux” [cook] for the Latin coquus. The modern definition is closer to “beggar.”


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2023 by Laura Prichard, (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.
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This text was added to the website: 2023-10-08
Line count: 36
Word count: 196