Song Cycle by (Kurt) Rudolf Mengelberg (1892-1959)

1. Strings in the earth and air

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. Lean out of the window

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.

3. Winds of May, that dance on the sea

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 9, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Winds of May, that dance on the sea, 
Dancing a ring-around in glee 
From furrow to furrow, while overhead 
The foam flies up to be garlanded, 
In silvery arches spanning the air, 
Saw you my true love anywhere? 
		 Welladay! Welladay! 
		 For the winds of May! 
  Love is unhappy when love is away!

4. My dove, my beautiful one

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 14, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

My dove, my beautiful one, 
  Arise, arise! 
  The night-dew lies 
Upon my lips and eyes. 

The odorous winds are weaving 
  A music of sighs: 
  Arise, arise, 
My dove, my beautiful one! 

I wait by the cedar tree, 
  My sister, my love. 
  White breast of the dove, 
My breast shall be your bed. 

The pale dew lies 
  Like a veil on my head. 
  My fair one, my fair dove, 
Arise, arise!1

5. Because your voice was at my side

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. O it was out by Donnycarney

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 31, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

O, it was out by Donnycarney 
  When the bat flew from tree to tree 
My love and I did walk together; 
  And sweet were the words she said to me. 

Along with us the summer wind 
  Went murmuring - O, happily! - 
But softer than the breath of summer 
  Was the kiss she gave to me.

7. Rain has fallen all the day

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.

8. Sleep now, O sleep now

Authorship

by James Joyce (1882-1941) , from Chamber Music, no. 34, published 1907

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Available translations (or transliterations, if applicable):

FRE French (Guy Laffaille)

Sleep now, O sleep now,
  O you unquiet heart!
A voice crying "Sleep now"
  Is heard in my heart.

The voice of the winter
  Is heard at the door.
O sleep, for the winter
  Is crying "Sleep no more."

My kiss will give peace now
  And quiet to your heart -
Sleep on in peace now,
  O you unquiet heart!

9. I hear an army charging upon the land

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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