Songs

Chanson (ombre du bois)

by Claude Debussy From Musique de scène pour les Chansons de Bilitis (1901)

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Text & Translation

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Chanson (ombre du bois)
French source: Pierre Louÿs

« Ombre du bois où elle devait venir, dis-moi,
où est allée ma maîtresse ? — Elle est
descendue dans la plaine. — Plaine, où est
allée ma maîtresse ? — Elle a suivi les bords du
fleuve.
— Beau fleuve qui l'a vue passer, dis-moi, estelle
près d'ici ? — Elle m'a quitté pour le
chemin. — Chemin, la vois-tu encore ? — Elle
m'a laissé pour la route.
— O route blanche, route de la ville, dis-moi,
où l'as-tu conduite ? — A la rue d'or qui entre à
Sardes. — O rue de lumière, touches-tu ses
pieds nus ? — Elle est entrée au palais du roi.
— O palais, splendeur de la terre, rends-la-moi !
— Regarde, elle a des colliers sur les
seins et des houppes dans les cheveux, cent
perles le long des jambes, deux bras autour de
la taille. »

Song (Shadow of the woods)
English translation © Carmella Cao

“Shadow of the woods where she was
supposed to come, tell me, where has my
mistress gone? – She has gone to the plain. –
Plain, where has my mistress gone? – She
followed the banks of the river.
– Beautiful river who saw her pass, tell me, is
she close to here? – She left me for the path. –
Path, do you see her still? – She left me for the
road.
– Oh white road, road to the city, tell me,
where have you led her? – To the street of gold
into Sardes. – Oh road of light, do you touch
her bare feet? – She entered the king’s palace.
– Oh palace, spendor of the earth, give her
back to me! – Look, she has necklaces on her
breasts and circlets in her hair, one hundred
pearls down to her legs, two arms around her
waist.

Chanson (ombre du bois)
French source: Pierre Louÿs

Song (Shadow of the woods)
English source: Carmella Cao

« Ombre du bois où elle devait venir, dis-moi,
“Shadow of the woods where she was
où est allée ma maîtresse ? — Elle est
supposed to come, tell me, where has my
descendue dans la plaine. — Plaine, où est
mistress gone? – She has gone to the plain. –
allée ma maîtresse ? — Elle a suivi les bords du
Plain, where has my mistress gone? – She
fleuve.
followed the banks of the river.
— Beau fleuve qui l'a vue passer, dis-moi, estelle
– Beautiful river who saw her pass, tell me, is
près d'ici ? — Elle m'a quitté pour le
she close to here? – She left me for the path. –
chemin. — Chemin, la vois-tu encore ? — Elle
Path, do you see her still? – She left me for the
m'a laissé pour la route.
road.
— O route blanche, route de la ville, dis-moi,
– Oh white road, road to the city, tell me,
où l'as-tu conduite ? — A la rue d'or qui entre à
where have you led her? – To the street of gold
Sardes. — O rue de lumière, touches-tu ses
into Sardes. – Oh road of light, do you touch
pieds nus ? — Elle est entrée au palais du roi.
her bare feet? – She entered the king’s palace.
— O palais, splendeur de la terre, rends-la-moi !
– Oh palace, spendor of the earth, give her
— Regarde, elle a des colliers sur les
back to me! – Look, she has necklaces on her
seins et des houppes dans les cheveux, cent
breasts and circlets in her hair, one hundred
perles le long des jambes, deux bras autour de
pearls down to her legs, two arms around her
la taille. »
waist.

Composer

Claude Debussy

(Achille) Claude Debussy was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Please click…

Poet

Pierre Louÿs

Pierre Louÿs was a French poet and writer, best known for his classical themes and sensual style. Read more here.

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