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La terre est froide et le ciel sombre, Adieu les joyeuses chansons ! Adieu les nids, ruches sans nombre, Les forêts jadis pleines d’ombre, Maintenant blanches de glaçons ! Voici l’hiver, voici la neige; Tous les arbres sont effeuillés, Qu’un climat plus doux vous protège ! Voici l’hiver, oiseaux fuyez. Adieu le gazon de la plaine, Adieu les bouquets triomphants, Qu’on y moissonnait à main pleine ! Les luttes à perte d’haleine, Des papillons et des enfants ! Voici l’hiver, voici la neige ; Où les pauvres marchent nu-pieds, Pour que le bon Dieu vous protège. Voici l’hiver, enfants priez. Par les chemins et par les rues, On rencontre, tendant la main, De pauvres femmes mal vêtues, On entend des voix éperdues. Grelottant de froid et de faim ! Voici l’hiver, voici le neige. Pensez à tant d’infortunés, Pour que le bon Dieu vous protège. Voici l’hiver, riches donnez.
Authorship
- by Armand Barthet (1820 - 1874) [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 Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880), "L'hiver", from Les voix mystérieuses, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Garrett Medlock) , "Winter", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-12-14
Line count: 27
Word count: 149
The earth is cold and the sky dark, Farewell happy songs! Farewell nests, beehives without number, The forests, once full of shade, [Are] now white with ice! Here is winter, here is the snow, All the trees are leafless; May a milder climate protect you! Here is winter; flee, birds. Farewell grass of the plain, Farewell triumphant bouquets Which one harvested by [the handful]! The breathless struggle, The butterflies and the children! Here is winter, here is the snow, Where the poor walk barefoot; May the good Lord protect you. Here is winter; pray, children. Through the paths and through the streets, One meets, extending [their] hands, Poor women [meagerly] dressed, One hears distraught voices, Shivering from cold and hunger! Here is winter, here is the snow, Think of the many unfortunate ones; May the good Lord protect you. Here is winter; give, you rich people.
Authorship
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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- a text in French (Français) by Armand Barthet (1820 - 1874)
This text was added to the website: 2020-02-27
Line count: 27
Word count: 146