Souvenir, souvenir, que me veux-tu ? L'automne Faisait voler la grive à travers l'air atone, Et le soleil dardait un rayon monotone Sur le bois jaunissant où la bise détone Nous étions seul à seule et marchions en rêvant, Elle et moi, les cheveux et la pensée au vent. Soudain, tournant vers moi son regard émouvant : « Quel fut ton plus beau jour? » fit sa voix d'or vivant, Sa voix douce et sonore, au frais timbre angélique. Un sourire discret lui donna la réplique, Et je baisai sa main blanche, dévotement. — Ah ! les premières fleurs, qu'elles sont parfumées ! Et qu'il bruit avec un murmure charmant Le premier oui qui sort de lèvres bien-aimées !
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Paul Verlaine, Poëmes saturniens, Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1866, in Melancholia, pages 15-16.
Authorship:
- by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Nevermore", appears in Poèmes saturniens, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1866 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Paul Amiet (1883 - 1942), "Nevermore", published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Quatre mélodies, no. 1, Paris, Sénart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Blasini, dit Blasi (1857 - 1913), "Plus jamais", alternate title: "Sérénade", 1893, published 1893 [ voice and piano ], Delay (under the title "Plus jamais"); Paris, Hachette (under the title "Sérénade") [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Bonneau (1918 - 1995), "Nevermore", published 1955 [ voice and piano ], from Six poésies de Paul Verlaine, no. 5, S.E.M.I. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles-Eugène Domergue (1878 - 1931), "Nevermore", 1906, published [1913] [ high voice and piano ], Paris, M. Serpeille [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sylvio Lazzari (1857 - 1944), "Nevermore", published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Hachette [sung text not yet checked]
- by Henry de Marliave , "Nevermore" [ voice and piano ], H. Marliave [sung text not yet checked]
- by Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974), "Nevermore", op. 409 no. 6 (1964), published 1966 [ soprano and piano ], from L'amour chante, no. 6, Bryn Mawr, Theodore Presser and Co. [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Otlet , "Nevermore", published 1935 [ voice and piano ], from Melancholia, no. 1, Bosworth et Cie [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nicolaas Schuyt (1922 - 1992), "Melancholia", published 1981-2 [ voice and piano ], from Alla Deriva, Amsterdam, Donemus [sung text not yet checked]
- by Guillermo Uribe Holguín (1880 - 1971), "Nevermore", op. 1 (Seis canciones) no. 3 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philip Wilby (b. 1949), "Nevermore", copyright © 1988, first performed 1983 [ medium voice and piano ], from Ten songs of Paul Verlaine for medium voice and piano, Cycle I : Melancholia, no. 1, Chester Music [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura L. Nagle) , "Nevermore", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Bergen Weeks Applegate) , "Nevermore", appears in Poems Saturnine, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Tamás Rédey) , "Nevermore", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Bronisława Ostrowska) , "Never more", Kraków, J. Mortkowicz, first published 1911
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 119
Remembrance, remembrance, what wouldst thou? The autumn Thrust on languid airs is sadly blown, And the sun's wan rays monotonously thrown On yellowing fields where weary winds make moan. She and I were alone, walking and dreaming, Our hair and our thoughts in the wind over-bold. Suddenly she turned toward me, her soft eyes gleaming, "Which was your happiest day?" said her voice of pure gold With its timbre angelic, sonorous and sweet. And the smile that I gave for reply was discreet As the kiss that I gave her white hand in devotion. — Ah! The first flowers and their perfume one sips! And the low sound with its charming emotion — The first "yes" that comes from well-beloved lips.
Confirmed with Bergen Applegate, Paul Verlaine: His Absinthe-Tinted Song, Chicago, Ralph Fletcher Seymour, The Alderbrink Press, 1916, page 45.
Authorship:
- by Bergen Weeks Applegate (b. 1865), "Nevermore", appears in Poems Saturnine, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Paul Verlaine (1844 - 1896), "Nevermore", appears in Poèmes saturniens, in 1. Melancholia, no. 2, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, first published 1866
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 page: Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2022-03-01
Line count: 14
Word count: 121