by (Paul) Jules Barbier (1825 - 1901)
Translation Singable translation by Samuel Byrne (flourished 1889)

N'oublions pas
Language: French (Français) 
Elle était jeune et jolie,
Et moi j'aimais follement
(Peut-être son coeur l'oublie)
Son regard pur et charmant.

Mes yeux seuls osaient lui dire
Ce que je pensais tout bas!
J'ai pleuré de son sourire.
O mon coeur, n'oublions pas!

Un jour, étrange follie
Qui soudain vint m'embraser
(Son coeur peut-être l'oublie)
Je lui ravis un baiser!

Dans son trouble encor plus belle.
Je la vis fuir de mes bras
"Un baiser volé," dit-elle,
"Mon coeur ne l'oubliera pas!"

Ma voix alors la supplie,
"Du baiser faites moi don!"
Et j'obtins (son coeur l'oublie)
Le baiser et le pardon!

Pure ivresse, ardente flamme,
Au seuil même du trépas,
Rassasie encor mon âme!
Triste et seul, n'oublions pas!

Text Authorship:

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 [singable] (Samuel Byrne) , "Let us not forget"


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 117

Let us not forget
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
She was so young and so fair
That I loved her deep and true
(It may be her heart forgets)
And her look, sweet and demure.

My eyes only could tell her
What passionate thoughts were mine!
I have wept at her lovely smile.
O my heart, do not forget!

One day, a foolish wild feeling
Came suddenly o'er my mind
(Her heart maybe now forgets)
I stole from her a sweet kiss!

In her fright she look'd still fairer.
As I saw her more away,
"That one stolen kiss", she told me,
"My heart never shall forget!"

My voice then spoke a request:
"Of that kiss make me a gift!"
I obtained (her heart forgets)
Both the kiss and forgiveness!

Passion pure and ardent flame!
On the very brink of death,
Thrill again this pour soul of mine!
Sad and lone, do not forget!

From the Lavigne score.

Text Authorship:

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):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 145