Historic Sheet Music Collection

Authors

Ambroise Thomas

Document Type

Score

Publication Date

1913

Comments

Connais tu le pays?, "Know'st thou not that fair land?" From the opera "Mignon". English version by Henry G. Chapman. Ambroise Thomas. G. Schirmer. New York.

Some of these resources may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes. Such materials should be seen in the context of the time period and as a reflection of the attitudes of the time. The items are part of the historical record, and do not represent the views of the libraries or the institution.

Lyrics

Connais tu le pays ou fleurit l’oranger,
Le pays des fruits d’or et des roses vermeil les?
Ou la brise est plus douce, et l’oiseau plus leger,
Ou dans toutw saison butinent les abeilles,
Ou rayonne et sourit, comme un bienfait de Dieu,
Un eternal princepts sous un ciel toujours bleu?
Helas! Que ne puisje te suivre
Vers ce rivage heureux, d’ou le sort m’exila!
C’est la, c’eset la que jevoudrais vivre,
Aimer, aimer et mourir!
C’est la que jevoudrais vivre, c’est la! Oui, c’est la!

Connais tu la maison ou l’on m’attend la bas?
La sal le aux lambris d’or, ou des hommes de marbre
M’appel lent dans la nuit en me tendant les bras?
Et la cour ou l’on danse a l’ombre d’un grand arbre,
Et le lac transparent, ou glissent sur les eaux
Mille bateaux legers, pareils a des oiseaux!
Helas! que ne puisje te suivre
Vers ce pays lointain d’ou le sort m’exi la!
C’est la, c’est la que je voudrais vivre,
Aimer, aimer et mourir!
C’est la que jevoudrais vivre, c’est la! oui, c’est la!

Kow’st thou not that fair land where the orange tree grows,
Land of fruits bright as gold and the reddest of roses?
Where the birds fleeter fly, where the wind softer blows,
Where all seasons around the honeybee ne’er dozes,
Where the sun warmer shines, where each morning anew
Spring eternal doth smile ‘neath a sky ever blue? Alas!
Would that I were returning
To my dear native land, where so happy was I!
‘Tis there, ‘tis there that I am yearning To live, to love, and to die!
'Tis there that I am yearning To love and to die!

Know’st not that my home waits me still in those lands?
The hall shinning with gold, where the marbles sedately
Are watching day and night as they stretch me their hands?
And the court where we danc’d ‘neath trees ancient and stately?
And the lake crystal clear, where on the waters glide
A thousand airy boats, like birds upon the tide!
Alas! Would that I were returning
To my dear native land, where so happy was I!
‘Tis there, ‘tis there that I am yearning
To love and to die!

COinS
 

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.