'Le retour', recorded by TallWall Media.
Le Retour
French source:
Georges Delaquys
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries,
Avec des bercements la vague roule et plie.
Au large de son coeur la mer aux vastes eaux
Où son oeil suit les blancs oiseaux
Egrène au loin des pierreries.
Ulysse part la voile au vent,
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries!
Penché oeil grave et coeur battant
Sur le bec d'or de sa galère
Il se rit, quand le flot est noir, de sa colère
Car là-bas son cher fils pieux et fier attend
Après les combats éclatants,
La victoire aux bras de son père.
Il songe, oeil grave et coeur battant
Sur le bec d'or de sa galère.
Ulysse part la voile au vent,
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries.
The Return
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Towards Ithaca on beloved waves,
Which rise and fall and sway.
Before the open sea of his heart, the vast ocean,
Where his eyes follow the white birds,
Scatters in the distance precious jewels.
Ulysses sets out, sails to the wind,
Towards Ithaca on beloved waves.
Leaning, with serious gaze and beating heart,
On the golden prow of his boat,
He laughs at his anger, when black waves threaten,
For yonder his dear, devout and proud son awaits,
After astounding victories, his triumphant father.
He dreams, with serious gaze and beating heart,
By the golden prow of his boat.
Ulysses sets out, sails to the wind,
Towards Ithaca on beloved waves.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Le Retour
French source:
Georges Delaquys
The Return
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ulysse part la voile au vent,
Ulysses sets out, sails to the wind,
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries,
Towards Ithaca on beloved waves,
Avec des bercements la vague roule et plie.
Which rise and fall and sway.
Au large de son coeur la mer aux vastes eaux
Before the open sea of his heart, the vast ocean,
Où son oeil suit les blancs oiseaux
Where his eyes follow the white birds,
Egrène au loin des pierreries.
Scatters in the distance precious jewels.
Ulysse part la voile au vent,
Leaning, with serious gaze and beating heart,
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries!
On the golden prow of his boat,
Penché oeil grave et coeur battant
Ulysses sets out, sails to the wind,
Sur le bec d'or de sa galère
Towards Ithaca on beloved waves.
Il se rit, quand le flot est noir, de sa colère
Car là-bas son cher fils pieux et fier attend
Après les combats éclatants,
La victoire aux bras de son père.
Il songe, oeil grave et coeur battant
Sur le bec d'or de sa galère.
Ulysse part la voile au vent,
Vers Ithaque aux ondes chéries.
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…
Poet
Georges Delaquys
Georges Delaquys was a French poet and playwright.