Songs

Berceuse

by Judith Weir From Nuits d'Afrique (2015)

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Text & Translation

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Berceuse
French source: Fatou Ndiaye Sow

Eye Sama Néné Touty!
Si tu sèches tes larmes
Je ter ferai un berceau
Des merveilles de l’Univers
Eye Sama Néné!
Si tu sèches tes larmes
Je te porterai dans un pagne
Tissé de rayons de soleil
Eye Sama Néné
Si tu sèches tes larmes
Je t’offrirai un bouquet d’étoiles
Pour retrouver ton sourire aurore
Eye Sama Néné!
Ayo Béyo Béyo
Ayo…

Lullaby
English translation © Janis A. Mayes

Ey Sama Neene Tutti!
If you dry your tears
I will sing you a song
Of the wonders of the Universe
Ey Sama Neene!
If you dry your tears
I will carry you in a pagne
Woven out of sun rays
Ey Sama Neene
If you dry your tears
I will give you a bouquet of stars
To find again your smile at dawn
Ey Sama Neene!
Aayoo Béyo Béyo
Aayoo…

Berceuse
French source: Fatou Ndiaye Sow

Lullaby
English source: Janis A. Mayes

Eye Sama Néné Touty!
Ey Sama Neene Tutti!
Si tu sèches tes larmes
If you dry your tears
Je ter ferai un berceau
I will sing you a song
Des merveilles de l’Univers
Of the wonders of the Universe
Eye Sama Néné!
Ey Sama Neene!
Si tu sèches tes larmes
If you dry your tears
Je te porterai dans un pagne
I will carry you in a pagne
Tissé de rayons de soleil
Woven out of sun rays
Eye Sama Néné
Ey Sama Neene
Si tu sèches tes larmes
If you dry your tears
Je t’offrirai un bouquet d’étoiles
I will give you a bouquet of stars
Pour retrouver ton sourire aurore
To find again your smile at dawn
Eye Sama Néné!
Ey Sama Neene!
Ayo Béyo Béyo
Aayoo Béyo Béyo
Ayo…
Aayoo…

Composer

Judith Weir

Judith Weir was born into a Scottish family in 1954, but grew up near London. She was an oboe player, performing with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and studied composition with John Tavener during her schooldays. She went on to…

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