Duparc - Chanson triste

Chanson triste

Duparc (1868)
Saint-Saëns (1872)

Dans ton cœur dort un clair de lune,
Un doux clair de lune d'été,
Et pour fuir la vie importune,
Je me noierai dans ta clarté.

J'oublierai les douleurs passées,
Mon amour, quand tu berceras
Mon triste cœur et mes pensées
Dans le calme aimant de tes bras.

Tu prendras ma tête malade,
Oh! quelquefois sur tes genoux,
Et lui diras une ballade
Qui semblera parler de nous;

Et dans tes yeux pleins de tristesses,
Dans tes yeux alors je boirai
Tant de baisers et de tendresses,
Que peut-être je guérirai.

Jean Lahor

There are slight difference between the texts used by Duparc and Saint-Saëns. The one given here follows the Duparc model.

Sad song

In your heart sleeps a moonlight,
a soft summer's moonlight,
and, to flee from this relentless life,
I shall drown myself in your brightness.

I shall forget past sufferings,
my beloved, when you cradle
my sad heart and my thoughts
in the loving peace of your arms.

Oh! Sometimes you will take
my sick head upon your knees,
and will tell it a ballad
which will seem to speak of us;

and in your eyes full of sorrows,
in your eyes then I shall drink
so many kisses and tokens of love,
that perhaps I shall recover.

© translated by Christopher Goldsack

The Saint-Saëns setting of this text is included in the Singing in French vol2 anthology and a score and accompaniment can be downloaded from the site shop in several keys.

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