Songs

Sérénade Sévillane

by Cécile Chaminade

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

Text & Translation

View IPA

Sérénade Sévillane
French source: Édouard Guinand

Sur les bords du Guadalquivir
J’errais un jour l’âme éperdue,
J’avais résolu de mourir,
Lorsque vous m’êtes apparue,
Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!

Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!
La paix à mon Coeur fut rendue,
Alors je cessai de souffrir,
Dès l’instant que je vous ai bue,
Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!

Je retourne au Guadalquivir
Après que je vous ai connue,
S’il me faut à jamais vous fuir,
À ses flots ma dépouille est vue,
Je retourne au Guadalquivir!

Sicilian Serenade
English translation © Richard Stokes

On the banks of the Guadalquivir
I roamed one say distractedly,
I had resolved to die
When you appeared to me
On the banks of the Guadalquivir.

On the banks of the Guadalquivir!
Peace returned to my heart,
And I ceased to suffer
As soon as I saw you
On the banks of the Guadalquivir!

I return to the Guadalquivir
After I have known you,
If I have to flee you for ever,
I return to the Guadalquivir
Which claims my mortal remains.

Sérénade Sévillane
French source: Édouard Guinand

Sicilian Serenade
English source: Richard Stokes

Sur les bords du Guadalquivir
On the banks of the Guadalquivir
J’errais un jour l’âme éperdue,
I roamed one say distractedly,
J’avais résolu de mourir,
I had resolved to die
Lorsque vous m’êtes apparue,
When you appeared to me
Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!
On the banks of the Guadalquivir.

Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!
On the banks of the Guadalquivir!
La paix à mon Coeur fut rendue,
Peace returned to my heart,
Alors je cessai de souffrir,
And I ceased to suffer
Dès l’instant que je vous ai bue,
As soon as I saw you
Sur les bords du Guadalquivir!
On the banks of the Guadalquivir!

Je retourne au Guadalquivir
I return to the Guadalquivir
Après que je vous ai connue,
After I have known you,
S’il me faut à jamais vous fuir,
If I have to flee you for ever,
À ses flots ma dépouille est vue,
I return to the Guadalquivir
Je retourne au Guadalquivir!
Which claims my mortal remains.

Composer

Cécile Chaminade

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) was one of the most successful female professional musicians of the 19th century, specialising in piano and vocal works and amassing a fortune during her lifetime. Born in Paris, she had an initially prosperous…

Performances

Previously performed at:

Help us with a Donation

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

Make a Donation

Select Tickets