Songs

Puisque l'aube grandit

by Gabriel Fauré From La bonne chanson (1894) Op. 61

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.

Text & Translation

View IPA

Puisque l'aube grandit (1870)
French source: Paul Verlaine

Puisque l'aube grandit, puisque voici l'aurore,
Puisque, après m'avoir fui longtemps, l'espoir veut bien
Revoler devers moi qui l'appelle et l'implore,
Puisque tout ce bonheur veut bien être le mien,

Je veux, guidé par vous, beaux yeux aux flammes douces,
Par toi conduit, ô main où tremblera ma main,
Marcher droit, que ce soit par des sentiers de mousses
Ou que rocs et cailloux encombrent le chemin;

Et comme, pour bercer les lenteurs de la route,
Je chanterai des airs ingénus, je me dis
Qu'elle m'écoutera sans déplaisir sans doute;
Et vraiment je ne veux pas d'autre Paradis.

Since day is breaking
French translation © Richard Stokes

Since day is breaking, since dawn is here,
Since hope, having long eluded me, would now
Return to me and my imploring,
Since all this happiness will truly be mine.

I shall, guided by your fair eyes' gentle glow,
Led by your hand in which I place my trembling hand,
Walk straight ahead, on mossy paths
Or boulder-strewn and stony tracks.

And while, to ease the journey's languid pace,
I shall sing some simple airs, I tell myself
That she will surely hear me without displeasure;
And truly I crave no other paradise.

Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)

Puisque l'aube grandit (1870)
French source: Paul Verlaine

Since day is breaking
French source: Richard Stokes

Puisque l'aube grandit, puisque voici l'aurore,
Since day is breaking, since dawn is here,
Puisque, après m'avoir fui longtemps, l'espoir veut bien
Since hope, having long eluded me, would now
Revoler devers moi qui l'appelle et l'implore,
Return to me and my imploring,
Puisque tout ce bonheur veut bien être le mien,
Since all this happiness will truly be mine.

Je veux, guidé par vous, beaux yeux aux flammes douces,
I shall, guided by your fair eyes' gentle glow,
Par toi conduit, ô main où tremblera ma main,
Led by your hand in which I place my trembling hand,
Marcher droit, que ce soit par des sentiers de mousses
Walk straight ahead, on mossy paths
Ou que rocs et cailloux encombrent le chemin;
Or boulder-strewn and stony tracks.

Et comme, pour bercer les lenteurs de la route,
And while, to ease the journey's languid pace,
Je chanterai des airs ingénus, je me dis
I shall sing some simple airs, I tell myself
Qu'elle m'écoutera sans déplaisir sans doute;
That she will surely hear me without displeasure;
Et vraiment je ne veux pas d'autre Paradis.
And truly I crave no other paradise.

Composer

Gabriel Fauré

  ​"Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. Among his…

Poet

Paul Verlaine

Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry. Born in Metz, Verlaine was educated at the Lycée Impérial…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets