Richard Dyer-Bennett sings it on the first recording on his own label, and he uses his own excellent English translation.

The joys of love are but a moment long;
The pain of love endures a whole life long.

I gave up all for cruel Sylvia
She gave me up and has taken another love.

The joys of love are but a moment long;
The pain of love endures a whole life long.

"Just as that stream ever flows toward the sea
"Beside the garden wall and over the meadow;
"So I will always be true." Thus often said Sylvia.
Still flows the stream, but she has changed her mind.

The joys of love are but a moment long;
The pain of love endures a whole life long.

The melody of the chorus, "The joys of love…." etc., is what was recorded by Joan Baez and others, but there is more to the song than that. Other than the chorus, the words JB uses are not related to the original song, Each of the verses in the original has its own (related) melody. Not of folk origin, as has been noted, it is an art song.

Among folk music aficionados, Richard Dyer-Bennett is not to everyone's taste. Some find his "art song" approach to folk songs inappropriate. Be that as it may, when Dyer-Bennett does sing an art song, such as "Plaisir d'Amour," that's where he really shines! With songs such as this, his classical approach is indeed appropriate. And his accompaniment for "The Joys of Love" is a marvelous example of what can be done when using the classic guitar to accompany the voice. It beautifully supports and blends with the song.

For the original melody lines for the verses, the sheet music should be orderable, and Dyer-Bennett's recording is available from Smithsonian-Folkways (number one on his own label).

Don Firth