Le temps des lilas et le temps des roses
Ne reviendra plus à ce printemps ci;
Le temps des lilas et le temps des roses
Est passé, le temps des illets aussi.
Le vent a changé, les cieux sont moroses,
Et nous n'irons plus courir, et cueillir
Les lilas en fleur et les belles roses;
Le printemps est triste et ne peut fleurir.
Oh! joyeux et doux printemps de l'année
Qui vins, l'an passé, nous ensoleiller,
Notre fleur d'amour est si bien fanée,
Las! que ton baiser ne peut l'éveiller!
Et toi, que fais-tu? pas de fleurs écloses,
Point de gai soleil ni d'ombrages frais;
Le temps des lilas et le temps des roses
Avec notre amour est mort à jamais.
The season for lilac and the season for roses
will not come back again to this spring;
the season for lilac and the season for roses
is passed, the season for carnations too.
the wind has changed, the skies are morose,
and we shall never again go to run, and gather
the lilac in bloom and the beautiful roses;
the spring is sad and cannot blossom.
Oh! Joyful and sweet springtime of the year
which came, last year, to light us with its sunshine,
our flower of love is so withered,
alas, that your kiss cannot awaken it!
And you, what are you doing? No flowers in bloom,
no happy sun nor cool shade;
the season for the lilac and the season for roses
with our love has died forever.
© translated by Christopher Goldsack
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