When you sing in the evening
Liszt, Franz
When you sing in the evening
cradled in my arms,
can you hear my thoughts
softly answering you?
Your sweet song recalls to me
the happiest days I've known.
Sing, sing, my pretty one,
sing on forever!
When you laugh, love
blossoms on your lips,
[and at once cruel
suspicion vanishes.]
Ah, faithful laughter
shows a heart without guile.
Laugh, laugh, my pretty one,
laugh on forever!
When you sleep calm and pure
beneath my gaze, in the shadow,
your breathing murmurs
harmonious words.
Your lovely body is revealed
without veil or finery.
Sleep, sleep, my pretty one,
sleep on forever!
When you say 'I love you',
oh my beauty, I believe!
I think that heaven itself
is opening above me!
Your eyes sparkle
with love's beautiful fire...
Love, love, my pretty one,
love on forever!
Do you see? All of life
is held in these four verbs,
all the good things people wish for,
all the good without the bad!
Everything that can delight,
everything that can charm...
To sing, to laugh,
to sleep, to love!