4985. Song of the Ghost (Original / Victor Hugo) South Yarra Senior Centre

Another song from last Friday's concert of Original songs at South Yarra Senior Centre in Fawkner Park.

This was the first song I ever wrote. When I was 16 - many many years ago - our French class studied a poem called "Chanson du Spectre", by Victor Hugo. I liked it so much that I wrote an English translation and set a tune to it. Here is the original poem:

LA CHANSON DU SPECTRE

Qui donc êtes-vous, la belle?
Comment vous appelez-vous?
Une vierge était chez nous;
Ses yeux étaient ses bijoux.
Je suis la vierge, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Vous êtes en blanc, la belle;
Comment vous appelez-vous?
En gardant les grands boeufs roux,
Claude lui fit les yeux doux.
Je suis la fille, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Vous portez des fleurs, la belle;
Comment vous appelez-vous?
Les vents et les coeurs sont fous,
Un baiser les fit époux.
Je suis l'amante, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Vous avez pleuré, la belle;
Comment vous appelez-vous?
Elle eut un fils, prions tous,
Dieu le prit sur ses genoux.
Je suis la mère, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Vous êtes pâle, la belle;
Comment vous appelez-vous?
Elle s'enfuit dans les trous,
Sinistre, avec les hiboux.
Je suis la folle, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Vous avez bien froid, la belle;
Comment vous appelez-vous?
Les amours et les yeux doux
De nos cercueils sont les clous.
Je suis la morte, dit-elle.
Cueillez la branche de houx.

Lyrics and chords:
E .......................... B7
Who are you my beautiful one?
E ...................... B7 ................ E
Please will you tell me your name?
....................................... B7
There was a maiden in our town.
.............................................. E
Her eyes were like jewels aflame.
....................................... B7
“I am the maiden,” she said, she said.
E ................. B7 ........................... E
Gather the branches of holly so red.

You’re clothed in white, my beautiful one.
Please won’t you tell me your name?
While minding the big red oxen,
A young man wooing her came.
“I am the girl,” she said, she said.
Gather the branches of holly so red.

You’re carrying flowers, my beautiful one.
Please won’t you tell me your name?
One kiss can wed the wind and the heart,
For the wind and the heart are insane.
“I am his lover,” she said, she said.
Gather the branches of holly so red.

Why are you weeping, my beautiful one?
Please tell your name, dear, to me.
She had a sweet little son,
And God took him up on his knee.
“I am the mother,” she said, she said.
Gather the branches of holly so red.

You are so pale, my beautiful one.
Please won’t you tell me your name?
Madly she fled through the bushes.
To live with the owls was her aim.
“I am the mad one,” she said, she said.
Gather the branches of holly so red.

You are so cold, my beautiful one.
Please won’t you tell me your name?
Our loves and our eyes so sweet;
The nails of our coffins the same.
“Yes, I am dead,” she said, she said.
Gather the branches of holly so red.

You can hear a playlist of my original songs (in alphabetical order) here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...

I am now posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos. Any that are too long to post in full will be found on my website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com