“Roots and Branches” - Music - University of California, Irvine

Translations
Im Nebel/ In the Mists
Wondrous to wander through mists!
Parted are bush and stone:
None to the other exists,
Each stands alone.
Many my friends came calling
then, when I lived in the light;
Now that the fogs are falling,
None is in sight.
Truly, only the sages
Fathom the darkness to fall,
Which, as silent as cages,
Separates all.
How strange to walk in the mists!
Life has to solitude grown.
None for the other exists:
Each is alone.
Mon Pauvre Couer/ My Poor Heart
When I see you, oh! my blond creole! On your balcony
Oh! I believe I see a lively halo illuminating your face
Holy child each day I implore you with ardor
To share the flame that consumes my poor heart.
If you would like, notwithstanding your opulence, to love only me:
You should tell me so, in order to relieve my suffering
I am hear for you…listen to me cherished idol
When I tell you that my soul takes wing always towards you
I have suffered too much. I have no more hope for the future.
I have suffered too much in my short existence. I want to die.
After my death come sweet dove.
For my unhappiness, come to my grave or my tomb sometime to pour
out your tears.
Chere mo lemme-toi/ Dear, I Love You So
Dear, I love you so
Yes, I love you dear, with all my heart I love you so.
Dear, I love but you. Dear I’m crazy about you
Like a pig loves mud.
If ever I cease to love, I’ll go, by heck, and break my neck.
Fais Do-Do/ Go to Sleep
Go to sleep, mother’s baby child.
If my baby doesn’t sleep long, sheep will come and eat him.
Michieu Banjo/ Mister Banjo
See that Mulatto over there, Mister Banjo,
How insolent he is!
Hat turned on one side, Mister Banjo,
Walking cane in hand;
Kerchief in his pocket, Mister Banjo, Cigar in his big mouth!
See that Mulatto over there, Mister Banjo,
How insolent he is!
Stout pants he wear, Mister Banjo,
Boots that make the noise, “Crink, crink!”
See that Mulatto over there, Mister Banjo,
How insolent he is!
Eyes rolling in his head, Mister Banjo,
Flower in his boutonniere, Mister Banjo,
He plays well enough, Mister Banjo
But he’s ugly as the devil!
See that Mulatto over there, Mister Banjo,
How insolent he is!
Zuihou de Lianqu/ The Last Love Song
Looking up, I gazed into the starry sky after a rain;
Turning my head, I saw your deep and looming eyes.
I can’t find back the innocent face of my pure youth;
But in the past, I thought no words could I tell anyone;
But now facing you, I wonder whether I can keep a word in mind
forever without speaking it aloud.
Give you my heart, all of it is still tear-moistened;
I tried but stopped telling you the endless love and regret of the past.
How many years do I exactly have to spend to get out of a dream?
I don’t dare to look up to the vast expanse of white, boundless, real sky.
I always thought that I can have a taste of all kinds of loves in my life,
But at this moment, I go toward you; I begin to realize that I have
already arrived at the destination.
No more feeling sad, no more feeling regret, no more o those days
surrounded by nightmare,
When we walk together, hand by hand, the sky is always blue.
Fire of Love and War
When I was playing a Chinese flute south of the Yangzi River,
A gust of wind blew the melody higher and higher into the mountain;
When I was singing a folk song beside the Great Lakes,
My feelings were reflected in the waves;
Wind came from the ocean, I heard the call of love,
Your smile shining in the blue sky,
Clouds hold your body,
Oh, a colorful wind gently kissed my lips;
Oh, drizzling raindrops stained my cheeks.
The call of love from the other side of the ocean,
Angels from the love goddess opened my heart to you.
Tonight, you’re my princess; my heart will follow you forever.
Tonight, we will get married. Let the sparkle of love shine on through
the rest of our lives.
Nie Ni Ren/ You and I
You and I
Love each other so
As from the same lump of clay
Is molded an image of you
And one of me.
In a moment of exstasy
We dash the images to pieces,
Put them in water,
And with stirring and kneading
Mold again an image of you
And another of me.
There and then,
You will find yourself in me,
I myself in you
Mu Gua/ The Quince
He gave me a quince,
I gave him a jade pendant,
Not in repayment,
But to make our love lasting.
He gave me a peach,
I gave him an emerald,
Not in repayment,
But to make our love lasting.
He gave me a plum,
I gave him black jade,
Notin repayment,
But to make our love endure.