Songs

Le dauphin, 'The dolphin'

by Francis Poulenc From Le Bestiaire (1919) FP 15a

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Text & Translation

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Le dauphin, 'The dolphin'
French source: Guillaume Apollinaire

Dauphins, vous jouez dans la mer,
Mais le flot est toujours amer.
Parfois, ma joie éclate-t-elle?
La vie est encore cruelle.

The dolphin
English translation © Richard Stokes

Dolphins, you play in the sea,
Though the waves are briny.
Does my joy at times erupt?
Life is still cruel.

Translations by Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)

Le dauphin, 'The dolphin'
French source: Guillaume Apollinaire

The dolphin
English source: Richard Stokes

Dauphins, vous jouez dans la mer,
Dolphins, you play in the sea,
Mais le flot est toujours amer.
Though the waves are briny.
Parfois, ma joie éclate-t-elle?
Does my joy at times erupt?
La vie est encore cruelle.
Life is still cruel.

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…

Poet

Guillaume Apollinaire

Guillaume Apollinaire  (26 August 1880 – 9 November 1918) was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic of Polish-Belarusian descent. Apollinaire is considered one of the foremost poets of the early 20th century, as…

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