Songs

Nanny

by Ernest Chausson From Sept mélodies (1880) Op. 2

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Text & Translation

Nanny
French source: Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle

Bois chers aux ramiers, pleurez, doux feuillages,
Et toi, source vive, et vous, frais sentiers;
Pleurez, ô bruyères sauvages,
Buissons de houx et d'églantiers.


Printemps, Roi fleuri de la verte année,
Ô jeune Dieu, pleure! Été mùrissant,
Coupe ta tresse couronnée ;
Et pleure, Automne rougissant.


L'angoisse d'aimer brise un coeur fidèle.
Terre et ciel, pleurez! Oh! Que je l'aimais !
Cher pays, ne parle plus d'elle;
Nanny ne reviendra jamais!

Nanny
English translation © Richard Stokes

Woods dear to the doves, weep; gentle leaves, weep;
And you flowing spring, and you cool paths;
Weep, O wild heather,
Holly and sweet-briar!

Spring, flower-laden monarch of the green year,
O young god, weep! Ripening summer,
Cut your crowned tresses;
And reddening autumn, weep!

Love’s anguish breaks a faithful heart.
Earth and heaven, weep! Oh! how I loved her!
Beloved countryside, speak of her no more:
Nanny will never return!

Nanny
French source: Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle

Nanny
English source: Richard Stokes

Bois chers aux ramiers, pleurez, doux feuillages,
Woods dear to the doves, weep; gentle leaves, weep;
Et toi, source vive, et vous, frais sentiers;
And you flowing spring, and you cool paths;
Pleurez, ô bruyères sauvages,
Weep, O wild heather,
Buissons de houx et d'églantiers.
Holly and sweet-briar!


Spring, flower-laden monarch of the green year,
Printemps, Roi fleuri de la verte année,
O young god, weep! Ripening summer,
Ô jeune Dieu, pleure! Été mùrissant,
Cut your crowned tresses;
Coupe ta tresse couronnée ;
And reddening autumn, weep!
Et pleure, Automne rougissant.


Love’s anguish breaks a faithful heart.
L'angoisse d'aimer brise un coeur fidèle.
Earth and heaven, weep! Oh! how I loved her!
Terre et ciel, pleurez! Oh! Que je l'aimais !
Beloved countryside, speak of her no more:
Cher pays, ne parle plus d'elle;
Nanny will never return!
Nanny ne reviendra jamais!

Composer

Ernest Chausson

Amédée-Ernest Chausson was a French romantic composer. From 1886 until his death in 1899, Chausson was secretary of the Société Nationale de Musique, met with a number of notable figures during his short lifetime, including the composers Henri…

Poet

Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle

Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle was a French poet of the Parnassian movement. He is traditionally known by his surname only, Leconte de Lisle.   Leconte de Lisle was born on the French overseas island of La Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. He…

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