Songs

Povera me!

by Pauline Viardot From Canti populari toscani

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Text & Translation

Povera me!
Italian source: Volkslied

Povera me che non pensavo al fine,
quando di voi mi presi a innamorare,
e non guardai a dir: "son poverina,"
che da' vostri occhi mi lasciai legare!
io mi lasciai legar ed era sciolta,
merito questo e peggio un'altra volta.
Povera me che non pensavo al fine,
quando di voi mi presi a innamorare!

Sento la morte, e la vedo venire,
la vedo che mi prende per mano,
e l'uscio della chiesa vedo aprire,
sento suonar a morte le campane;
Quando m'incontri, fallo il pianto amaro,
Ricordati di me, quando t'amavo.
Quando m'incontri, volgi i passi indietro,
Ricordati di me quand' era teco!

Poor me!
English translation © Randi Marrazzo & Morghan Pastrana

Poor me, that I didn’t think of the end
when you took me to love you.
And I didn’t see, when saying I was your poor sweet love,
That from your eyes, I let myself be bound!
And I gave up,
Deserving this and worse again.
Poor me, that I didn’t think of the end
when you took me to love you.

I feel death, and see it coming,
I see it take my hand,
as the door of the church opens.
I hear the bells ring of death;
when facing the bitter tears.
Remember me when I loved you,
when you face me, turn your steps back,
Remember, remember me, when death was with you.

Povera me!
Italian source: Volkslied

Poor me!
English source: Randi Marrazzo & Morghan Pastrana

Povera me che non pensavo al fine,
Poor me, that I didn’t think of the end
quando di voi mi presi a innamorare,
when you took me to love you.
e non guardai a dir: "son poverina,"
And I didn’t see, when saying I was your poor sweet love,
che da' vostri occhi mi lasciai legare!
That from your eyes, I let myself be bound!
io mi lasciai legar ed era sciolta,
And I gave up,
merito questo e peggio un'altra volta.
Deserving this and worse again.
Povera me che non pensavo al fine,
Poor me, that I didn’t think of the end
quando di voi mi presi a innamorare!
when you took me to love you.

Sento la morte, e la vedo venire,
I feel death, and see it coming,
la vedo che mi prende per mano,
I see it take my hand,
e l'uscio della chiesa vedo aprire,
as the door of the church opens.
sento suonar a morte le campane;
I hear the bells ring of death;
Quando m'incontri, fallo il pianto amaro,
when facing the bitter tears.
Ricordati di me, quando t'amavo.
Remember me when I loved you,
Quando m'incontri, volgi i passi indietro,
when you face me, turn your steps back,
Ricordati di me quand' era teco!
Remember, remember me, when death was with you.

Composer

Pauline Viardot

Pauline Viardot, née Garcia (1821-1910) was one of the most remarkable, accomplished musical professionals of the 19th century. Born into a family of music professionals, she wanted to be a pianist, but following the early death of her sister…

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