by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

The day returns 
Language: English 
Our translations:  FRE
The day returns, my bosom burns, 
The blissful day we twa did meet !
Tho' winter wild in tempest toiled, 
Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet.
Than a' the pride that loads the tide, 
And crosses o'er the sultry line,
Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes, 
Heaven gave me more, -- it made thee mine.

While day and night can bring delight, 
Or nature aught of pleasure give,
While joys above my mind can move, 
For thee, and thee alone, I live!
When that grim foe of life below, 
Comes in between to make us part,
The iron hand that breaks our band, 
It breaks my bliss, it breaks my heart.

Confirmed with The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Cambridge edition, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1897, page 219.


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, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Le jour revient", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2012-08-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 111