Songs

Si vous n'avez rien à me dire

by Camille Saint-Saëns

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Text & Translation

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Si vous n'avez rien à me dire
French source: Victor Hugo

Si vous n’avez rien à me dire,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi?
Pourquoi me faire ce sourire
Qui tournerait la tête au roi?
Si vous n’avez rien à me dire,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi?

Si vous n’avez rien à m’apprendre,
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main?
Sur le rêve angélique et tendre,
Auquel vous songiez en chemin,
Si vous n’avez rien à m’apprendre,
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main?

Si vous voulez que je m’en aille,
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici?
Lorsque je vous vois, je tressaille:
C’est ma joie et c’est mon souci.
Si vous voulez que je m’en aille,
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici?

If you have nothing to tell me
English translation © Richard Stokes

If you have nothing to tell me,
Why do you draw near?
Why give me that smile
That would turn a monarch’s head?
If you have nothing to tell me,
Why do you draw near?

If you have nothing to tell me
Why are you taking my hand?
About this tender, angelic dream
You dreamt on your journey here,
If you have nothing to tell me,
Why are you taking my hand?

If you wish me to go away,
Why do you pass by here?
When I catch sight of you, I tremble:
That both gladdens and troubles me.
If you wish me to go away
Why do you pass by here?

Si vous n'avez rien à me dire
French source: Victor Hugo

If you have nothing to tell me
English source: Richard Stokes

Si vous n’avez rien à me dire,
If you have nothing to tell me,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi?
Why do you draw near?
Pourquoi me faire ce sourire
Why give me that smile
Qui tournerait la tête au roi?
That would turn a monarch’s head?
Si vous n’avez rien à me dire,
If you have nothing to tell me,
Pourquoi venir auprès de moi?
Why do you draw near?

Si vous n’avez rien à m’apprendre,
If you have nothing to tell me
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main?
Why are you taking my hand?
Sur le rêve angélique et tendre,
About this tender, angelic dream
Auquel vous songiez en chemin,
You dreamt on your journey here,
Si vous n’avez rien à m’apprendre,
If you have nothing to tell me,
Pourquoi me pressez-vous la main?
Why are you taking my hand?

Si vous voulez que je m’en aille,
If you wish me to go away,
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici?
Why do you pass by here?
Lorsque je vous vois, je tressaille:
When I catch sight of you, I tremble:
C’est ma joie et c’est mon souci.
That both gladdens and troubles me.
Si vous voulez que je m’en aille,
If you wish me to go away
Pourquoi passez-vous par ici?
Why do you pass by here?

Composer

Camille Saint-Saëns

Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, organist, conductor, and pianist of the Romantic era. A musical prodigy, he gave his first concert at only 10 years old, before studying at the Paris Conservatoire. Information from Wikipedia.…

Poet

Victor Hugo

Victor Marie Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. He is considered one of the greatest and best-known French writers. In France, Hugo's literary fame comes first from his poetry and then from his novels and his…

Performances

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