Songs

Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie

by Lili Boulanger From Clairières dans le ciel (1914)

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Text & Translation

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Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
French source: Francis Jammes

Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
et, comme la prairie était toute fleurie
de plantes dont la tige aime à pousser dans l’eau,
ces plantes inondées je les avais cueillies.
Bientôt, s’étant mouillée, elle gagna le haut
de cette prairie-là qui était toute fleurie.
Elle riait et s’ébrouait avec la grâce
dégingandée qu’ont les jeunes filles trop grandes.
Elle avait le regard qu’ont les fleurs de lavande.

She had reached the low-lying meadow
English translation © Richard Stokes

She had reached the low-lying meadow,
and, since the meadow was all a-blossom
with plants that like to grow in water,
I had picked these flooded flowers.
Soon, soaking wet, she reached the top
of that blossoming meadow.
She was laughing and gasping with the gawky
grace of girls who are too tall.
Her eyes looked like lavender flowers.

Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
French source: Francis Jammes

She had reached the low-lying meadow
English source: Richard Stokes

Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
She had reached the low-lying meadow,
et, comme la prairie était toute fleurie
and, since the meadow was all a-blossom
de plantes dont la tige aime à pousser dans l’eau,
with plants that like to grow in water,
ces plantes inondées je les avais cueillies.
I had picked these flooded flowers.
Bientôt, s’étant mouillée, elle gagna le haut
Soon, soaking wet, she reached the top
de cette prairie-là qui était toute fleurie.
of that blossoming meadow.
Elle riait et s’ébrouait avec la grâce
She was laughing and gasping with the gawky
dégingandée qu’ont les jeunes filles trop grandes.
grace of girls who are too tall.
Elle avait le regard qu’ont les fleurs de lavande.
Her eyes looked like lavender flowers.

Composer

Lili Boulanger

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) is often described as one of the most gifted composers of the twentieth century, however, her promise was cut short by early death. She achieved a degree of posthumous renown which is exceptional among women…

Performances

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