Barcarolle
Barcarolle (The Tales of Hoffman) - Offenbach Lyrics
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Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Ô, belle nuit d'amour!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Emporte nos tendresses
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Le temps fuit sans retour
z-nous vos caresses
Zéphyrs embrasés
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
Vos baisers! Vos baisers! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô, nuit d'amour
Souris à nos ivresses
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Ô, belle nuit d'amour!
Ah! souris à nos ivresses!
Nuit d'amour, ô, nuit d'amour!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!
The Barcarolle, also known as “Belle Nuit, ô Nuit d'amour” is a duet from Offenbach's opera 'The Tales of Hoffmann'. The song is sung by the characters of Giulietta and Nicklausse, who are riding through the canals of Venice. The song is known for its soothing melody, and the lyrics describe the beauty of the night and the love that the characters share.
The lyrics speak of the night of love being sweeter than the day, and despite the fleeting passage of time, the memories of passion and tenderness remain. The song evokes themes of love and passion, and the wonder of being swept away by those feelings. The words “Zéphyrs embrasés, Donnez-nous vos baisers” which translates to “Emblazoned zephyrs, Give us your kisses” convey a kind of eroticism, which adds a layer of depth and complexity to the song.
Overall, the Barcarolle is a beautifully crafted piece that captivates listeners with its mellifluous melody and evocative lyrics. It is a testament to the power of love and the depth of human emotion that can be experienced through music.
Line by Line Meaning
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour
Beautiful night, oh night of love
Souris à nos ivresses
Smile upon our drunkenness
Nuit plus douce que le jour
Night sweeter than day
Ô, belle nuit d'amour!
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Le temps fuit et sans retour
Time flees and never returns
Emporte nos tendresses
It carries away our tenderness
Loin de cet heureux séjour
Far from this happy place
Le temps fuit sans retour
Time flees and never returns
Zéphyrs embrasés
Embraced by the Zephyrs (breezes)
z-nous vos caresses
Give us your caresses
Zéphyrs embrasés
Embraced by the Zephyrs (breezes)
Donnez-nous vos baisers!
Give us your kisses!
Vos baisers! Vos baisers! Ah!
Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô, nuit d'amour
Beautiful night, oh night of love
Souris à nos ivresses
Smile upon our drunkenness
Nuit plus douce que le jour,
Night sweeter than day,
Ô, belle nuit d'amour!
Oh, beautiful night of love!
Ah! souris à nos ivresses!
Ah! smile upon our drunkenness!
Nuit d'amour, ô, nuit d'amour!
Night of love, oh night of love!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!
Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@deutschegrammophon
Would you like to see more videos like this one in our DG YouTube channel?
@Arglarglarg
Yes, but you won't have many answers on a video posted ELEVEN YEARS ago :)
@aerozden
Yes, yes, yes, we would!..
@eygloaradottir4044
yes please!
@michah.3535
Absolutely yes :-)
@calixtoa3059
Si, estaría padre
@rusnicovaolga7789
The best duet in the entire world ❤❤❤❤
@SHN69
Listening to it at the moment: Yes. Of course. 😉
@eduardogarzon1465
Totalmente de acuerdo!
@ghw7192
Robert Merrill and Jussi Bjorlng: The Pearl Fishers