18 Oct 08 - 08:29 AM (#2469061) Subject: Lyr Add: Complainte de la Seine (Magre, Weill) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: COMPLAINTE DE LA SEINE Maurice Magre, Kurt Weill, 1934 Au fond de la Seine Il y a de l'or, Des bateaux rouillés, Des bijoux, des armes. Au fond de la Seine Il y a des larmes. Au fond de la Seine Il y a des fleurs, De vase et de boue Elles sont nourries. Au fond de la Seine Il y a des coeurs Qui souffrient trop Pour vivre la vie. Et puis des cailloux Et des bêtes grises, L'âme des égouts Soufflant des poisons, Les anneaux jetés Par des incomprises, Des pieds qu'une hélice A coupés du trone. Et les fruits maudits Des ventres stériles, Laits blancs avortés Que nul n'aima, Les vomissements De la grand' ville, Au fond de la Seine Il y a cela. O Seine clémente Ou vont des cadavres, Au lit dont les draps Sont faits de limon. Fleuve des déchets Sans fanal ni havre, Chanteuse berçant La morgue, ils le font. Accueille le pauvre (2x) Accueille la femme (2x) Accueille l'ivrogne, Accueille le fou, Mêle leurs sanglots Au bruit de tes larmes Et porte leur coeur Et porte leur coeur Et porte leur coeur Parmi les cailloux. Au fond de la Seine Il a de l'or, Des bateaux rouillés, Des bijoux, des armes. Au fond de la Seine Il y a des morts Au fond de la Seine Il a des larmes. Composed during Kurt Weill's period in Paris; first sung by Lys Gauty (Alice Gauthier). Duplications in verse six variously handled. I believe cds containing this song, by Teresa Stratas and Marianne Faithfull, are still available. A very different song from "La Seine," in thread 7269, River Songs: River Songs I don't know of a translation in print; if one isn't posted here in a few days, I will sketch a translation. |
20 Oct 08 - 10:04 PM (#2471381) Subject: Lyr Add: LAMENT OF THE SEINE (Magre, Weill, Mabrey From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyr. Add: LAMENT OF THE SEINE Magre and Weill, translation by Sean Mabrey of "Complainte de la Seine." At the bottom of the Seine there is gold, rusting boats, jewels, weapons. At the bottom of the Seine there are dead bodies. At the bottom of the Seine there are tears. At the bottom of the Seine there are flowers, in their vase of mud, they are nourished by silt. (silt, slime) At the bottom of the Seine there are the hearts that suffered greatly from having lived life. And then the rocks and the grey beasts (*bêtes grises)... The pipes of the sewers blowing out poisons, The rings cast off by unappreciative lovers, The feet cut off by a propellor From their trunk. And the cursed fruits of sterile wombs, The innocent abortions that no one loved, The vomit of the grand city... On the bottom of the Seine They are there. Oh, lenient Seine where the cadavers go, Oh, the bed with sheets made of silt, River of losses (refuse) with neither beacon nor haven, Singing a lullaby to the morgue, at the font. Welcoming the poor one, welcoming the woman, welcoming the drunkard, welcoming the insane one, Mixing their sobs to the sound of your tears, And carrying their heart, and carrying their heart, and carrying their soul (coeur- heart; soul) Among the rocks. At the bottom of the Seine there is gold, the rusted boats, the jewels, the weapons. At the bottom of the Seine There are the dead. At the bottom of the Seine there are tears... Translation by Sean Mabry, 2004, but I have made a few changes and indicated others by ( ). From a site with information on a Paris concert by Yoko Ono- but I have lost the link. *bêetes grises, bêetes noires- often not translated. Available on cds by Teresa Stratas and Marianne Faithfull. French lyrics at www.paroles.net/chanson/38766.1 and posted previously. |
20 Oct 08 - 10:07 PM (#2471383) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Complainte de la Seine (Magre, Weill) From: Q (Frank Staplin) O great clone master, perhaps the bold close in the title can be fixed. (I did proof, but poorly) |