As to my eyes are the bending lines
of Her soft skin so is Her dance along
the mountain curve on a sweet summer
breeze under the guidance of His presence:
leaf by leaf and ray by ray this Queen
is walking to my heart, touching with
Her veils, I hardly can believe Her call,
and I invite Her in, humbly accepting
the gift of Her warm breath
O no, there is no death when there is
parting only the reassuring promise
of Her leave to have Her and to hold
this welcome as a gentle bride
written on a tango summer course in Albi, La Fraysinette France
This is a beautiful ballad, performed live in 2014 by the famous Flemish folk group Laïs. They sing in Dutch and composed the song using a poem by my father Ferdinand Vercnocke (1906-1989), painter and poet of the sea. With Dutch lyrics and English subtitles included! I translated the Dutch lyrics in a way they fit to the music, so you can sing along if you like. It’s not so easy to make a translation that both matches the original lyrics & music, but I tried. Enjoy!
Bruidsnacht Bridal Night
Zij is naar ’t duin gegaan And to the dune she’s gone Haar bruidskleed had zij aan Her bridal dress put on Baren gaan heen en weer Waves they go to and fro Sterren staan klaar Stars ready glow
Eenzaam in doods gebied Lonesome in deaden deep Ontwaakt hij en hoort haar lied Her tune wakes him from sleep Baren gaan heen en weer Waves they go to and fro Donker is ’t tij Darken the tide
Hij kwam uit zee naar ’t strand From sea he came to land Hij nam haar bij de hand He took her by the hand Baren gaan heen en weer Waves they go to and fro Sterren staan klaar Stars ready glow
Donker duin Darken dune Donker duin Darken dune Sterren staan helder klaar Bright stars all ready glow Zij rusten eeuwig They rest eternally Bij elkaar Bound they flow
Toen in dat geurend kruid And there in fragrant green Werd zijn gekroonde bruid Became his Bridal Queen Baren gaan heen en weer Waves they go to and fro Donker is ’t tij Darken the tide
Hij nam haar met zich mee He made her company Terug naar de brandende zee Back to the flaming sea Baren gaan heen en weer Waves they go to and fro Sterren staan klaar Stars ready glow
Donker duin Darken dune Donker duin Darken dune Sterren staan helder klaar Bright stars all ready glow Zij rusten eeuwig They rest eternally Mm mm… Bij elkaar Mm mm.. bound they flow
Donker duin Darken dune Donker duin Darken dune Sterren staan helder klaar Bright stars all ready glow Zij rusten eeuwig They rest eternally Mm mm… Bij elkaar Mm mm.. bound they flow
Compostion: Laïs Dutch lyrics: by my father Ferdinand Vercnocke (1906-1989)
Boutman 