Emmanuel Dye: Lyrics and Translations

April 3, 2025

3 Chansons de ‘La Petite Sirène'

Translation: 3 Songs from the Little Siren

Chanson des Sirènes (Song of the Sirens)

Dans le vent et dans le flot
In the wind and in the waves,
dissous toi fragile écume
dissolve, fragile foam
Dissous toi dans un sanglot
Dissolve into a teardrop,
pauvre cœur rempli d'amertume
poor heart filled with bitterness

Prends ton vol dans le ciel bleu
Take flight into the blue sky
vois la mort n'est pas cruelle.
See that death is not cruel.
Tu auras la paix de Dieu
God’s peace will be yours
viens à nous âme immortelle…
Come to us, immortal soul…

Berceuse de la Sirène (The Siren’s Lullaby)

Danse avec nous dans le bel Océan
Dance with us in the beautiful ocean
le matin ou le soir sous la lune d'argent.
The morning or evening, under the silver moon
Plonge avec nous dans le flot transparent,
Dive with us into the transparent waves
chante au soleil dans l'écume et le vent.
sing to the sun in the foam and wind
Mer berce nous dans tes bras caressants
Sea, rock us in your caressing arms
Mer berce nous sur ton coeur frémissant.
Sea, rock us on your trembling heart.

Chanson de la Poire (Song of the Pear)

C'est l'histoire
This is the story
d'une poire
of a pear
on la cueille
it is picked
dans les feuilles
among the leaves
on la tape
we tap it
tant et tant,
so much,
qu'elle en claque
that it dies
en trois temps
in triple time
d'une attaque
from a tap
Il faut boire
You must drink
à la poire
to the pear
un bon coup.
a good shot.
Il faut boire
You must drink
et c'est tout.
and that is all.

Viens! mon Bien-Aimé!

Translation: Come to me, my Sweet Love

Les beaux jours vont enfin renaître,
The beautiful days will return,
Le voici, l'avril embaumé!
It is here, the embalmed April!
Un frisson d'amour me pénètre,
A shiver of love penetrates me,
Viens! mon bien-aimé!
Come to me, my sweet love!

Ils ont fui, les longs soirs moroses,
They are gone, the long, sad evenings,
Déjà le jardin parfumé
Again the garden is perfumed
Se remplit d'oiseaux et de roses:
It is filling with birds and roses:
Viens! mon bien-aimé!
Come to me, my sweet love!

Soleil, de ta brûlante ivresse,
Sun, from your burning intoxication,
J'ai senti mon coeur enflammé,
I felt my heart on fire,
Plus enivrante est ta caresse,
More intoxicating is your caress,
Viens! mon bien-aimé!
Come to me, my sweet love!

Tout se tait, de millions d'étoiles
All is silent, there are millions of stars
Le ciel profond est parsemé,
Dotting the profound sky,
Quand sur nous la nuit met ses voiles:
When the night sets its sail over us:
Viens! mon bien-aimé!
Come to me, my sweet love!

Che fiero costume

Translation: What fierce power

Che fiero costume
What fierce power
D'aligero nume,
This winged god has,
Che a forza di pene si faccia adorar!
Who by force of pain, makes himself adored!
E pur nell' ardore
And even in my ardor
Il dio traditore
The traitorous god
Un vago sembiante mi fe' idolatrar.
Made me idolize a lovely face.

Che crudo destino
What a cruel fate
Che un cieco bambino
That a blind child
Con bocca di latte si faccia stimar!
With a mouth of milk makes himself esteemed!
Ma questo tiranno
But this tyranny
Con barbaro inganno,
With brutal deception
Entrando per gli occhi, mi fe' sospirar!
Entering through my eyes, makes me sigh!

Saluste du Bartas

I. Le château du Bartas (du Bartas’ Castle)

Un gascon à mine fière
A Gascon with a proud face
Écrit de beaux vers pompeux
Writes a fine pompous verse
Dans cette gentilhommière.
In this gentleman’s manor.

Il ressemble comme un frère
He resembles a brother
A Monluc, illustre, preux,
From Monluc, illustrious, brave,
Un gascon à mine fière.
A Gascon with a proud face.

Le jeune poète espère
The young poet hopes
Un jour revenir fameux
One day to return famous
Dans cette gentilhommière.
To this gentleman’s manor.

Gloire! descends sur la terre
Glory! Come down to Earth
Élire au-dessus des dieux
Elect to be above the gods
Un gascon à mine fière
A Gascon with a proud face
Dans cette gentilhommière!
In this gentleman’s manor!

II. Tout le long de la Baïse… (All Along the Baïse…)

Tout le long de la Baïse
All along the Baïse
C'est Saluste du Bartas
There’s Saluste du Bartas
Qui sans cesse poétise.
Who writes poetry endlessly

Il songe à sa Cidalise
He dreams of his Cidalise
En marchant à petits pas
While marching with small steps
Tout le long de la Baïse.
All along the Baïse

C'est la souveraine exquise
It is the sovereign and exquisite
Marguerite aux doux appas
Marguerite with sweet charms
Qui sans cesse poétise.
Who writes poetry endlessly

Reine! quelqu'un vous courtise!
Queen! Someone is courting you!
Ne l'aimeriez-vous pas?
Would you not love him?
Tout le long de la Baïse
All along the Baïse
Qui sans cesse poétise…
Who writes poetry endlessly…

III. Le départ (The Departure)

Avec sa belle prestance,
With his beautiful presence,
Lèvre rouge, regard noir,
Red lip, black eyes,
Quel modèle d'élégance.
What a model of elegance.

Il part pour courir sa chance
He leaves to try his luck
Loin des tours du vieux manoir
Far from the towers of the manor
Avec sa belle prestance.
With his beautiful presence.

Surs son chapeau se balance
On his hat swings
La plume au souffle du soir.
A feather in the evening breeze.
Quel modèle d'élégance.
What a model of elegance.

Tous! admirez sa fringance
All! Admire his dashing
Venez vite, venez voir
Come quickly, come and see
Avec sa belle prestance
With his beautiful presence
Quel modèle d'élégance.
What a model of elegance.

IV. The Walk (La Promenade)

Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite of Navarre
Par un jour brûlant d'été
on a scorching summer’s day
A promener se prépare.
Is preparing for a walk.

Sa toilette est du plus rare…
Her attire is of the rarest kind…
Elle aime tant sa beauté
She loves her beauty so much
Marguerite de Navarre.
Marguerite of Navarre.

Dans Nérac, quel tintamarre:
In Nérac, what an uproar:
La princesse, en vérité,
The princess, in truth,
A promener se prépare.
Is preparing for a walk.

Page, laisse ta guitare
Page, put down your guitar
Puisque en son parc enchanté
Since in its enchanted park
Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite of Navarre
A promener se prépare.
Is preparing for a walk.

V. Nérac en fête (Nérac in Festivity)

Qu'est-ce donc sur la garenne?
What is that in the field?
Le peuple danse gaîement
The people dance merrily
On accourt lorgner la Reine.
People run to ogle at the Queen.

Mais que voit-on? C'est à peine
But what do we see? It is scarcely
Comme un mirage charmant
Like a charming mirage
Qu'est ce donc sur la garenne?
What is that in the field?

Des couples vont par centaine
Couples go by the hundreds
Enlacés étroitement
Tightly intertwined
On accourt lorgner la Reine.
People run to ogle at the Queen.

Amour, c'est toi qui le mêne,
Love, it is you who leads them,
Mais chut... elle vient vraiment!
But shush… She really is coming!
Qu'est-ce donc sur la garenne?
What is that in the field?
On accourt lorgner la Reine.
People run to ogle at the Queen.

VI. Duo (Duo)

L'amour auquel tout invite
Love, to which everything invites
Va réunir à la fin
Will at last unite
Le poète et Marguerite.
The poet and Marguerite.

Telle en songe elle palpite
As though in a dream, she palpitates
Captive d'un beau destin;
Captive of a beautiful destiny;
L'amour auquel tout invite…
Love, to which everything invites…

Avec la ferveur d'un rite
With the fervour of a ritual
Ils se tiennent par la main
They hold each other’s hand
Le poète et Marguerite.
The poet and Marguerite.

Éros! qui tout facilite
Eros! Who facilities everything
Allume donc dans leur sein
Lights up in their breast
L'amour auquel tout invite
Love, to which everything invites
Le poète et Marguerite!
The poet and Marguerite!

Widmung (Dedication)

Du meine Seele, du mein Herz,
You my soul, you my heart,
du meine Wonn’, o du mein Schmerz,
You my bliss, O you my pain
Du meine Welt, in der ich lebe,
You the world in which I live,
Mein Himmel du, darein ich schwebe,
My heaven you, in which I float,
o du mein Grab, in das hinab
O you my grave, into which
Ich ewig meinen Kummer gab.
I eternally bury my sorrow.

Du bist die Ruh, du bist der Frieden,
You are repose, you are peace,
Du bist vom Himmel mir beschieden,
You are bestowed upon me from heaven,
Daß du mich liebst, macht mich mir wert,
That you love me gives me my worth,
Dein Blick hat mich vor mir verklärt,
Your gaze transfigures me,
Du hebst dich liebend über mich,
You raise me lovingly above myself,
mein guter Geist, mein beßres Ich!
My good spirit, my better self!

Two Vocal Duets

I. The Last Invocation

At the last, tenderly,
From the walls of the powerful fortress'd house,
From the clasp of the knitted locks, from the keep of the well-
closed doors,
Let me be wafted.
Let me glide noiselessly forth;
With the key of softness unlock the locks—with a whisper,
Set ope the doors O soul.
Tenderly—be not impatient,
(Strong is your hold O mortal flesh,
Strong is your hold O love.)

II. The Love Song of Birds

Shine! Shine! Shine!
Pour down your warmth, great sun!
While we bask -- we two together.

Two together!
Winds blow South or winds blow North,
Day come white, or night come black,
Home or rivers and mountains from home,
Singing all ... time, minding no time,
While we two keep together.

Серенада Дон-Жуана

Translation: Don Juan’s Serenade

Гаснут дальней Альпухары
The distant Alpujarras
Золотистые края,
Grow dim in the golden distance,
На призывный звон гитары
To the calling of my guitar
Выйди, милая моя!
Come out, my beloved!

Всех, кто скажет, что другая
Everyone who says another person
Здесь равняется с тобой,
Here can compare to you,
Всех, любовию сгорая,
All of them, since I burn with love,
Всех, всех, всех зову на смертный бой!
All of them I will fight to the death!

От лунного света
From the moonlight
Зардел небосклон,
The sky is glowing,
О, выйди, Нисета, о выйди, Нисета,
Oh come out Nisetta,
Скорей на балкон!
Quickly to the balcony!

От Севильи до Гренады,
From Seville to Granada,
В тихом сумраке ночей,
In the quiet of the nights,
Раздаются серенады,
Serenades are heard,
Раздаётся стух мечей.
The clashing of swords are heard.

Много крови, много песней
A lot of blood, a lot of songs
Для прелестных льются дам,
Pour out for attractive ladies,
Я же той, кто всех прелестней,
As for me, for the prettiest woman,
Всё, всё, песнь и кровь мою отдам!
I will give all my singing and blood!

От лунного света
From the moonlight
Зардел небосклон,
The sky is glowing,
О, выйди, Нисета, о выйди, Нисета,
Oh come out Nisetta,
Скорей на балкон!
Quickly to the balcony!

Liederkreis

Translation: Song Cycle

IV. Lieb’ Liebchen, leg’s Händchen (Dear love, lie your hand)

Lieb’ Liebchen, leg’s Händchen aufs Herze mein; –
Dear love, lie your hand on my heart;
Ach, hörst du, wie’s pochet im Kämmerlein?
Ah, do you hear how it pounds in its room?
Da hauset ein Zimmermann schlimm und arg,
It houses a carpenter, vile and wicked,
Der zimmert mir einen Totensarg.
He is building me a coffin.

Es hämmert und klopfet bei Tag und bei Nacht;
He hammers and bangs, day and night;
Es hat mich schon längst um den Schlaf gebracht.
He has long stolen sleep from me.
Ach! sputet euch, Meister Zimmermann,
Ah! Hurry up, Master Carpenter,
Damit ich balde schlafen kann.
So that I can soon sleep.

V. Schöne Wiege meiner Leiden (Beautiful cradle of my sorrows)

Schöne Wiege meiner Leiden,
Beautiful cradle of my sorrows,
Schönes Grabmal meiner Ruh’,
Beautiful grave of my repose,
Schöne Stadt, wir müssen scheiden, –
Beautiful city, we must part,
Lebe wohl! ruf’ ich dir zu.
“Farewell!” I cry to you.

Lebe wohl, du heil’ge Schwelle,
Farewell, you holy dwelling,
Wo da wandelt Liebchen traut;
Where my dear love wanders;
Lebe wohl! du heil’ge Stelle,
Farewell! You holy place,
Wo ich sie zuerst geschaut.
Where I first saw her.

Hätt’ ich dich doch nie geseh’n,
Had I never seen you,
Schöne Herzenskönigin!
Beautiful queen of my heart!
Nimmer wär’ es dann geschehen,
Then it never would have happened,
Daß ich jetzt so elend bin.
That I am now so miserable.

Nie wollt’ ich dein Herze rühren,
I never wanted to touch your heart,
Liebe hab’ ich nie erfleht;
I never wanted to beg for love;
Nur ein stilles Leben führen
I only wanted to lead a quiet life
Wollt’ ich, wo dein Odem weht.
Where you breathed.

Doch du drängst mich selbst von hinnen,
But you yourself drive me away,
Bittre Worte spricht dein Mund;
Your mouth speaks bitter words.
Wahnsinn wühlt in meinen Sinnen,
Madness grows in my senses,
Und mein Herz ist krank und wund.
And my heart is sick and wounded.

Und die Glieder matt und träge
And with weak and tired limbs
Schlepp’ ich fort am Wanderstab,
I trudge forward on my walking stick,
Bis mein müdes Haupt ich lege
Until I lay my sad head
Ferne in ein kühles Grab.
in a cool, distant, grave.

The Kiss

I hoped that he would love me,
And he has kissed my mouth,
But I am like a stricken bird
That cannot reach the south.

For though I know he love me,
To-night my heart is sad;
His kiss was not so wonderful
As all the dreams I had.

Candle

Since I have been away from you,
I only know how to weep.
Like a candle, melting is who I am.
Like a harp, any sound I make is music.

O del mio amato ben

Translation: Oh Lost Enchantment of my Dear Beloved

O del mio amato ben perduto incanto!
Oh, lost enchantment of my dear beloved!
Lungi è dagli occhi miei
Far from my eyes is
chi m'era gloria e vanto!
Who was, to me, glory and pride!
Or per le mute stanze
Now through the empty rooms
sempre lo cerco e chiamo
I always seek her and call her
con pieno il cor di speranze?
With a heart full of hopes?
Ma cerco invan, chiamo invan!
But I search in vain, I call in vain!
E il pianger m'è sì caro,
And the weeping is so dear to me,
che di pianto sol nutro il cor.
That with weeping alone I nourish my heart.

Mi sembra, senza lei, triste ogni loco.
It seems to me, without her, sadness is everywhere
Notte mi sembra il giorno;
Night is day to me;
mi sembra gelo il foco.
Fire is cold to me.
Se pur talvolta spero
If, however, I sometimes hope
di darmi ad altra cura,
to give myself another cure,
sol mi tormenta un pensiero:
one thought torments me:
Ma, senza lei, che farò?
But, without her, what will I do?
Mi par così la vita vana cosa
To me, life is a vain thing
senza il mio ben.
Without my beloved.

The Vagabond

Give to me the life I love,
Let the lave go by me,
Give the jolly heaven above,
And the byway nigh me.
Bed in the bush with stars to see,
Bread I dip in the river—
There’s the life for a man like me,
There’s the life for ever.

Let the blow fall soon or late,
Let what will be o’er me;
Give the face of earth around,
And the road before me.
Wealth I seek not, hope nor love,
Nor a friend to know me;
All I seek, the heaven above,
And the road below me.

Or let autumn fall on me
Where afield I linger,
Silencing the bird on tree,
Biting the blue finger.
White as meal the frosty field—
Warm the fireside haven—
Not to autumn will I yield,
Not to winter even!

Being Alive

Someone to hold you too close
Someone to hurt you too deep
Someone to sit in your chair
And ruin your sleep
And make you aware
Of being alive

Someone to need you too much
Someone to know you too well
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell
And give you support
For being alive
Being alive

Somebody hold me too close
Somebody hurt me too deep
Somebody to sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive
Being alive
Make me alive

Make me confused
Mock me with praise
Let me be used
Vary my days
But alone is alone, not alive

Somebody drown me with love
Somebody force me to care
Somebody make me come through
I'll always be there
As frightened as you
To help us survive
Being alive.