by Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974)
Translation © by John Glenn Paton

Chant de Sion
Language: French (Français)  after the Hebrew (עברית) 
Our translations:  ENG
Ce n'est la rosée ni la pluie, 
ce sont mes larmes qui arrosent, 
Ô Sion, tes montagnes. 
Ce n'est pas le feu ni le soleil, 
c'est notre sang qui fait rougir, 
Ô Sion, tes cieux! 

Et une vapeur monte, 
formée des larmes de nos yeux 
jusqu'au ciel, et devient de la pluie,
Et ces eaux douces apaisent notre esprit, 
l'esprit de ceux qui pleurent Jerusalem. 

Ces larmes des yeux 
sont une consolation pour l'âme, 
un remède au coeur brisé; 
ce sont elles qui fortifient les coeurs abattus 
et qui apaisent l'âme agitée.

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Based on:

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 (John Glenn Paton) , "Song of Zion", copyright ©, (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: 16
Word count: 92

Song of Zion
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
 It is neither dew nor rain,
 it is my tears that bedew 
 your mountains, o Zion.
 It is neither fire nor sun,
  but our blood that reddens
 your skies, o Zion.
 
 And a mist rises,
 formed of the tears of our eyes,
 clear to heaven, and becomes rain,
 and these sweet waters calm our spirit,
 the spirit of those who mourn for Jerusalem.
 
 These tears of our eyes
  are a consolation, 
 a healing for the broken heart.
 It is they that strengthen battered hearts
 and calm the agitated soul.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by John Glenn Paton, (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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Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 90