dusk

sunset at the 79th street boat basin

The beautiful lyrics of Fauré’s “Les Berceaux” are the poetry of French engineer, philospher and poet, René François Armand (Sully) Prudhomme, 1839-1907. This is one of the historical recordings I mentioned, recorded in 1936. If the surface noise of the recording seems to get in the way, just listen through the song and then listen all over again. You will soon be able to hear Panzéra’s passionate and sincere delivery of a beloved mélodie.

Le long du quai, les grands vaisseaux, Along the wharves, the large ships,
Que la houle incline en silence, Rocked silently by the swells
Ne prennent pas garde aux berceaux Do not heed the cradles
Que la main des femmes balance. Which the hands of the women rock.
Mais viendra le jour des adieux, But the day of farewells will come,
Car il faut que les femmes pleurent, For the women are bound to weep
Et que les hommes curieux And the inquisitive men
Tentent les horizons qui leurrent. Must dare the horizons that lure them.
Et ce jour-là les grands vaisseaux, And on that day the great ships
Fuyant le port qui diminue, Fleeing from the vanishing port,
Sentent leur masse retenue Feel their bulk held back
Par l’âme des lointains berceaux. By the soul of the far away cradles.