by
Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963)
Prière
Language: French (Français)
Available translation(s): ENG GER
Sainte Vierge Marie, ayez pitié des gens
Qui reviennent de guerre et qui n'ont pas d'argent.
Ma femme en aime un autre, elle me rit au nez.
Mon chien cherche à me mordre et m'a abandonné.
On me traite d'ivrogne et si je veux du vin,
On me donne un peu d'eau avec un bout de pain.
Sainte Vierge Marie, ayez pitié des gens.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Note: an unpublished poem given to Durey by Cocteau.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Victoria de Menil) , "Prayer", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Gebet", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 7
Word count: 64
Prayer
Language: English  after the French (Français)
Holy Virgin Mary, have pity on the people
Who return from war and who have no money.
My wife loves another, she laughs in my face.
My dog tries to bit me and has abandonned me.
I'm called a drunkard and if I want wine
They give me a little water with a bit of bread.
Holy Virgin Mary, have pity on the people.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by Victoria de Menil, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963), written 1919?
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 7
Word count: 65