Debussy - Beau soir

Beau soir

Debussy (1878)

Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses,
Et qu'un tiède frisson court sur les champs de blé,
Un conseil d'être heureux semble sortir des choses
Et monter vers le cœur troublé;

Un conseil de goûter le charme d'être au monde,
Cependant qu'on est jeune et que le soir est beau,
Car nous nous en allons, commes s'en va cette onde:
Elle à la mer _ nous au tombeau!

Paul Bourget

Beautiful evening

When in the setting sun the rivers are pink,
and a warm gust runs over the fields of wheat,
counsel to be happy seems to emanate from all things
and rise towards the troubled heart;

counsel to taste the charm of being in this world,
whist one is young and the evening is beautiful,
for we depart, as this water departs;
it to the sea _ we to the grave!

© translated by Christopher Goldsack

This song 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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