N'est‑ce pas triste que nos yeux se...
Language: French (Français)
N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?
On voudrait avoir les yeux toujours ouverts,
pour avoir vu, avant le terme,
tout ce que l'on perd.
N'est-il pas terrible que nos dents brillent ?
Il nous aurait fallu un charme plus discret
pour vivre en famille
en ce temps de paix.
Mais n'est-ce pas le pire que nos mains se cramponnent,
dures et gourmandes ?
Faut-il que des mains soient simples et bonnes
pour lever l'offrande !
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- by Giacomo Manzoni (b. 1932), "N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?", 2006, copyright © 2006 [ chorus ], from Vergers, no. 2, Roma [etc.] : Rai Trade [sung text not yet checked]
- by André-François Marescotti (1902 - 1995), "N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?", published 1947 [ high voice and piano ], from Vergers, no. 2, Éd. Jean Jobert [sung text not yet checked]
- by Léon Orthel (1905 - 1985), "N'est-ce pas triste", op. 61 (Sept mélodies) no. 6 (1972), published 1972 [ medium voice and piano ], Amsterdam, Ed. Donemus [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 74
Isn't it sad that our eyes close?
Language: English after the French (Français)
Isn't it sad that our eyes close?
One would like to have one's eyes always open,
to have seen beforehand
all that is being lost.
Isn't it terrible that our teeth shine?
We would have needed a discreeter charm
to live as family
in this time of peace.
But isn't it the worst that our hands grasp,
hard and greedy?
Hands must be simple and good
to lift up the offering!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"N'est-ce pas triste
" = "Isn't it sad"
"N'est-ce pas triste que nos yeux se ferment ?" = "Isn't it sad that our eyes close?"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 71
