Song Cycle by Gary Bachlund

1. Make Music Sweet

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 1, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Strings in the earth and air 
  Make music sweet; 
Strings by the river where 
  The willows meet. 

There's music along the river 
  [For Love wanders there,]1
Pale flowers on his mantle, 
  Dark leaves on his hair. 

All softly playing, 
  With head to the music bent, 
And fingers straying 
  Upon an instrument.

2. Twilight

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 2, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

The twilight turns from amethyst 
  To deep and deeper blue, 
The lamp fills with a pale green glow 
  The trees of the avenue. 

The old piano plays an air, 
  Sedate and slow and gay; 
She bends upon the yellow keys, 
  Her head inclines this way. 

Shy thoughts and grave wide eyes and hands 
  That wander as they list? 
The twilight turns to darker blue 
  With lights of amethyst.

3. Goldenhair

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 5, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Lean out of the window,
  Goldenhair,
I heard you singing
  A merry air.

My book is closed;
  I read no more,
Watching the fire dance
  On the floor.

I have left my book,
  I have left my room,
For I heard you singing
  Through the gloom,

Singing and singing
  A merry air.
Lean out of the window,
  Goldenhair.

4. Where Love Did Sometime Go

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 16, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

O cool is the valley now 
  And there, love, will we go 
For many a choir is singing now 
  Where Love did sometime go. 

And hear you not the thrushes calling, 
  Calling us away? 
O cool and pleasant is the valley 
  And there, love, will we stay.

5. Pain

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 17, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Because your voice was at my side 
 I gave him pain, 
Because within my hand I held 
  Your hand again. 

There is no word nor any sign 
 Can make amend 
He is a stranger to me now 
 Who was my friend.

6. Companion

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 21, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

He who hath glory lost, nor hath 
  Found any soul to fellow his, 
Among his foes in scorn and wrath 
  Holding to ancient nobleness, 
That high unconsortable one - 
His love is his companion.

7. Gentle Lady

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 28, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Gentle lady, do not sing 
  Sad songs about the end of love; 
Lay aside sadness and sing 
  How love that passes is enough. 

Sing about the long deep sleep 
  Of lovers that are dead, and how 
In the grave all love shall sleep: 
  Love is aweary now.

8. Rain has fallen

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 32, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Rain has fallen all the day.
O come among the laden trees:
The leaves lie thick upon the way
Of [mem'ries.]1

Staying a little by the way
Of [mem'ries]1 shall we depart.
Come, my beloved, where I may
Speak to your heart.

9. I Hear an Army

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 36, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

I hear an army charging upon the land,
  And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,
  Disdaining the reins, with flutt'ring whips, the charioteers.

They cry unto the night their battlename:
  I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame,
  Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.

They come shaking in triumph their long, green hair:
  They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
  My love, my love, why have you left me alone?

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