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Si l'enfant sommeille, Il verra l'abeille, Quand elle aura fait son miel, Danser entre terre et ciel. Sie l'enfant repose, Un ange tout rose, Que la nuit seule on peut voir, Viendra lui dire: »bonsoir!« Si mon enfant m'aime, Dieu dira lui même: J'aime cet enfant qui dort: Qu'on lui porte un rêve d'or. Mettez lui des aîles, Comme aux tourterelles Pour venir dans mon soleil Danser, danser jusqu'à son réveil. Fermez ses paupières, Et sur ses prières, De mes jardins pleins de fleurs Faites glisser les couleurs. Mais je veux qu'il dorme, Et qu'il se conforme Au silence des oiseaux Couchés parmi les roseaux! Car si l'enfant pleure, On entendra l'heure Tinter partout qu'un enfant A fait ce que Dieu défend. L'écho de la rue, Au bruit accourue, Quand l'heure aura soupiré, Dira: »d'enfant a pleuré!« Et sa tendre mère, Dans sa nuit amère, Pour son ingrat nourisson Ne saura plus hélas! de chanson. Si l'enfant est sage, Sur son doux visage La Vierge se penchera, Et longtemps lui parlera.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Le musée des familles, August 1835.
Text Authorship:
- by Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786 - 1859), "Dormeuse", written 1835, appears in Pauvres Fleurs, first published 1835 [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 Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875), "Berceuse sur un vieil air", op. 21 no. 11 (1868), published 1873 [ voice and piano ], from Vingt mélodies pour chant et piano, no. 11, Paris, Éd. Choudens [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Marguerite Canal (1890 - 1978), "Dormeuse", published [1948] [ medium voice and piano ], from Quatre berceuses, no. 3, Édition Max Eschig [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernest Doré (1830 - 1884), "Dormeuse", op. 2, published [1854] [ medium voice and piano ], Paris, Éd. 'Au Ménestrel' Heugel; note: this song might begin with stanza 2 since its incipit is "Si l'enfant repose" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Irène Fuerison (1875 - 1931), "Dormeuse", op. 10 (1915) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Edmond Michotte (1831 - 1914), "Dormeuse", published [1864] [ high voice and piano ], from Vingt-cinq morceaux de chant à une et à plusieurs voix avec accompagnement de piano, no. 10, Paris, Éd. Flaxland [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Ahmed E. Ismail) , "Cradle song after an old air", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2024, (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: 40
Word count: 171
If my babe will sleep for me, He will see a busy bee Making honey, flying high, Dancing twixt the earth and sky. If my babe will go to bed, Then an angel dressed in red You’ll see when I douse the light; He’ll peek out and say: “Good night!” If you love me, pray, God himself will say: When this child does what he’s told, I’ll bring him a dream of gold. He will rise on wings, Like the dove that sings, High enough to reach the sun And dance ‘til the night is done. Close your eyes and have no cares, Fold your hands and say your prayers. Let my gardens, colored bright, Beckon you to slumber tonight. I know you will rest now, And that you can show me how Sleepy birds like quiet best, Lying in their reedy nest! No more crying, not one tear, Or the clock chime you will hear, Ringing when a child is bad Or does things to make God sad. In the street below Ev’ryone will know That the clock bell’s sighing Means some child is crying, And his dear, sweet mother Suffers like no other, For her son who cries so long No more ever shall hear her song. If you lie down quietly, Soon above your bed you’ll see Mother Mary bending near, Whisp’ring blessings in your ear.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Berceuse sur un vieil air" = "Lullaby on an Old Air"
"Dormeuse" = "The Sleeper"
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2024 by Michael P Rosewall, (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:
- a text in French (Français) by Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (1786 - 1859), "Dormeuse", written 1835, appears in Pauvres Fleurs, first published 1835
This text was added to the website: 2024-05-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 229