C'est ainsi que tu es
French source:
Louise de Vilmorin
Chevelure emmêlée,
Ton pied courant le temps,
Ton ombre qui s’étend
Et murmure à ma tempe.
Voilà, c’est ton portrait,
C’est ainsi que tu es
Et je veux te l’écrire
Pour que la nuit venue
Tu puisses croire et dire
Que je t’ai bien connue.
That is how you are
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Your tangled hair,
Your feet pursuing time,
Your shadow which stretches
And whispers close to my temple.
There, that is your portrait,
That is how you are,
And I shall write it down for you
So that when night comes,
You may believe and say
That I knew you well.
Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
C'est ainsi que tu es
French source:
Louise de Vilmorin
That is how you are
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ta chair d’âme mêlée
Your flesh, mingled with soul,
Chevelure emmêlée,
Your tangled hair,
Ton pied courant le temps,
Your feet pursuing time,
Ton ombre qui s’étend
Your shadow which stretches
Et murmure à ma tempe.
And whispers close to my temple.
Voilà, c’est ton portrait,
There, that is your portrait,
C’est ainsi que tu es
That is how you are,
Et je veux te l’écrire
And I shall write it down for you
Pour que la nuit venue
So that when night comes,
Tu puisses croire et dire
You may believe and say
Que je t’ai bien connue.
That I knew you well.
Composer
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…
