Text & Translation
Déception
French source:
Paul Collin
J'ai voulu revoir les grands bois,
Où nous promenions autrefois
Notre amour à sa belle aurore.
Je me disais: "Sur le chemin,
Je la retrouverai, sans doute;
Ma main se tendra vers sa main,
Et nous nous remettrons en route."
Je regarde partout. En vain!
J'appelle! Et l'écho seul m'écoute!
O le pauvre soleil pâli!
O les pauvres bois sans ramage!
O, mon pauvre amour, quel dommage!
Si vite perdu dans l'oubli!
Disappointment
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I wanted to see again the great woods
Where we used to walk
When our love had only just begun.
I told myself: ‘I shall
Doubtless find her on the road;
My hand will reach for her hand,
And we shall walk on together.’
I look everywhere. In vain!
I call! And the echo alone hears me!
Ah, poor, pale sun!
Ah, poor woods without birdsong!
Ah, my poor love – the pity of it,
So soon to be lost to oblivion!
Déception
French source:
Paul Collin
Disappointment
English source:
Richard Stokes
Le soleil rayonnait encore.
The sun was still shining.
J'ai voulu revoir les grands bois,
I wanted to see again the great woods
Où nous promenions autrefois
Where we used to walk
Notre amour à sa belle aurore.
When our love had only just begun.
Je me disais: "Sur le chemin,
I told myself: ‘I shall
Je la retrouverai, sans doute;
Doubtless find her on the road;
Ma main se tendra vers sa main,
My hand will reach for her hand,
Et nous nous remettrons en route."
And we shall walk on together.’
Je regarde partout. En vain!
I look everywhere. In vain!
J'appelle! Et l'écho seul m'écoute!
I call! And the echo alone hears me!
O le pauvre soleil pâli!
Ah, poor, pale sun!
O les pauvres bois sans ramage!
Ah, poor woods without birdsong!
O, mon pauvre amour, quel dommage!
Ah, my poor love – the pity of it,
Si vite perdu dans l'oubli!
So soon to be lost to oblivion!
Composer
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. His works are still among the most popular music in the classical repetoire, and he is widely acknowledged as the first Russian composer to make a lasting international…
