Comment vouloir qu'une personne chante - How can you expect a person to sing?
earliest written copy 1555
singing of Gabriel Yacoub, "Anthologie de la chanson française - Des trouvères à la pléiade." You can also hear his version on YouTube.
translation by Casey [diplocase]

COMMENT VOULOIR QU'UNE PERSONNE CHANTE Comment vouloir qu'une personne chante Quand elle n'a pas son cœur en liberté ? Laissez chanter ceux que l'amour contente Et laissez-moi, et laissez-moi dans mon malheur pleurer Et laissez-moi, et laissez-moi dans mon malheur pleurer Pleurez, mes yeux, pleurez mon sort funeste J'ai tout perdu en perdant mon Iris Cruel destin, prenez ce qui me reste Et rendez-moi, et rendez-moi ce que vous m'avez pris Et rendez-moi, et rendez-moi ce que vous m'avez pris Prenez mon cœur et donnez-moi le vôtre Il est à vous, je ne prétends plus rien Mais si j'apprends que vous aimez un autre Tout aussitôt, tout aussitôt je reprendrai le mien Tout aussitôt, tout aussitôt je reprendrai le mien J'avais juré de n'aimer qu'une fille J'avais juré de la toujours aimer Quand je la vois, je passe mon martyre Quand je la vois, quand je la vois, je passe mon tourment Quand je la vois, quand je la vois, je passe mon tourment Que faudra-t-il, belle Iris, pour vous plaire ? Faut-il mon sang ? Il est prêt à couler Mais si mon sang ne peut vous satisfaire Faut-il ma mort ? Faut-il ma mort ? Vous n'avez qu'à parler Faut-il ma mort ? Faut-il ma mort ? Vous n'avez qu'à parler Après la mort, vous pleurerez, je jure Vous m'aimerez : ce ne sera plus temps Vous marcherez dessus ma sépulture En regrettant, en regrettant le plus fidèle amant En regrettant, en regrettant le plus fidèle amant.

HOW CAN YOU EXPECT A PERSON TO SING How can you expect a person to sing Without his heart be free? Those whom love makes happy, let them sing And leave me alone, in misery to weep. And leave me alone, in misery to weep. Weep, oh my eyes, weep for this, my fate In losing her, I have lost everything Fate, will you not come take what I have left, And give me back the thing you took from me? And give me back the thing you took from me? Give me your heart, and you take mine It belongs to you; I seek nothing more But if I learn that you love another In that very moment I will take it back. In that very moment I will take it back. I took a vow to love just one girl I swore to always love but only you Whenever I see her I’m in torment Whenever I see her I suffer anew Whenever I see her I suffer anew What will it take, lovely Iris, for to please you? Is it my blood? I'm ready for to bleed. But if my blood alone do not requite you Will you demand my death? Only speak the word. Will you demand my death? Only speak the word. After my death you'll weep for me, I swear it You’ll know you love me; it will be too late You’ll come and go above my grave Missing and wishing your loyal love to have Missing and wishing your loyal love to have

Literal translation (Monique)

How does anyone want a person to sing
When they don't have a free heart?
Let those that love makes happy, sing
And let me, and let me weep in my misfortune,
And let me, and let me weep in my misfortune.

Weep, my eyes, weep over my dreadful fate,
I lost everything by losing my Iris,
Dreadful destiny, take what I have left
And give me back, and give me back what you took from me,
And give me back, and give me back what you took from me,

Take my heart and give me yours,
It's yours, I don't claim anything more,
But if I find out that you love someone else
Right away, right away I'll take mine back,
Right away, right away I'll take mine back.

I'd sworn I'd love only one girl,
I'd sworn to love her forever,
When I see her, I suffer agony
When I see her, when I see her, I suffer my torment
When I see her, when I see her, I suffer my torment.

What will be needed, beautiful Iris, to please you?
Is my blood needed? It's ready to flow
But if my blood can't satisfy you,
Is my death needed? Is my death needed? You only have to speak out
Is my death needed? Is my death needed? You only have to speak out

After my death, you'll cry, I swear/bet
You'll love me, this time will be over,
You'll walk upon my grave
Regretting, regretting your (the) most faithful lover

Recording by Gabriel Yacoub
Live rendition by Luc Arbogast

Sheet music

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