May First, Muguet Day

On the first of May, the French give Muguet (Lilly of the Valley) to each other. I love it! French Husband (like 99 percent of France's population) will go out early in the morning, returning with a brin for whoever is home. It is the symbol of giving happiness to one another. 

The song below is a French classic… 

Les Temps du Muguet

Il est revenu le temps du muguet 

The Lily of the Valley returns,

Comme un vieil ami retrouvé 

Like an old found friend,

Il est revenu flâner le long des quais 

It comes back strolling along the riverbank,
("Quais," is dock but I like riverbank better.)

Jusqu'au banc où je t'attendais 

To the bench where I wait,
 (or is that "I'm waiting?")

Et j'ai vu refleurir

watching it bloom, 
 … or is it better said, "Where I have seen it flowering…"
    ….or "Watched it do its thing" … Yes, I like this modern twist best.

L'éclat de ton sourire

The brightness of your smile,

Aujourd'hui plus beau que jamais

More beautiful today than ever.

Le temps du muguet ne dure jamais

The Lily of the Valley never last long,

Plus longtemps que le mois de mai

Longer than the month of May,

Quand tous ses bouquets déjà se sont fanés

When the bouquets have faded,

Pour nous deux rien n'aura changé

For the two of us, nothing will have changed,

Aussi belle qu'avant

Also beautiful than before,

Notre chanson d'amour

Our song of love,

Chantera comme au premier jour

Singing like the first day,

Il s'en est allé le temps du muguet

And this one I cannot figure out, and if you are still reading I am impressed!

Comme un vieil ami fatigué

Like an old tired friend (it really does say that and that is what I feel like when I translate),

Pour toute une année pour se faire oublier

An entire year to make us forget,

En partant il nous a laissé

When it has ended, It leaves us, (have you even noticed that when people translate they seem to cut to the chase and leave most of what is said behind?)

Un peu de son printemps

A little Springtime,

Un peu de ses vingt ans

A little of her twenty years (translation should not be word for word, because it rarely makes sense.)

Pour s'aimer pour s'aimer longtemps.

To love, to love forever.

______________________

 

This is why I do not translate, I am terrible at it…

 

 



Comments

7 responses to “May First, Muguet Day”

  1. What a beautiful tradition Happy May First

  2. Diogenes

    But I’m guessing your translation is better than the “runny heart, coop of ice cream” people.

  3. LOL, Diogenes!

  4. Learned online that the song’s melody is based on a Russian tune known to the West as “Moscow Nights” — and a Dixieland (trad jazz) arrangement of it under the title “Midnight in Moscow” reached #2 on the Billboard charts in 1962.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Nights

  5. Speaking of translating… The Google Translate version leaves something to be desired, so don’t apologize, Corey.

  6. Jenifer Delson

    I am so impressed by your translation. What a sweet tradition. When I and my little friend from diapers ages would celebrate May 1st, my mom would help us make cones out of colored paper decorated with paper doilies, then put flowers in the cone to give to our neighbors. She and I are 80 now, but every May 1st we call each other to share our love. Thank you Corey for this May Day treat. With gratitude, Jenifer

  7. I planted Lily of the Valley in my garden just to remember and to send love to those around me.

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