Bonjour Suzon! (Goodmorning, Sussie!)

Composer:Léo Delibes (1836-1891)

Poet:  Louis Charles Alfred de Musset (1810-1857) ,
 "Chanson: Bonjour Suzon", from Poésies posthumes

Date of composition:1861-1863

Recommended Recording by Victoria de Los Angeles

 

A playful song with simple poem, "Bonjour Suzon!" portrays the simple love

of a lover coming back  to see his beloved Sussie. A great trip he had where

he writes, loves and enjoys the tour to Italy, but what matter most is the

reunion of him and Sussie after all.

Modulations occurs in the songs to depict the changes of

emotions, making it a contrast upon the simple melody. It shows

the transformation of narrator's emotions while he was singing and awaiting

to see his love, pleading, asking, wondering, questioning etc.

As Sussie replied " I wish not yet"

whether or not they meet each other at the end,

is not been told. The music still ended

as cheerful as the beginning, neither upset, nor satisfaction of relieve. 

 

Bonjour     Suzon, ma fleur des bois!

Goodmorning Sussie my flower the wood

Es-tu toujours la plus  jolie?  

are you always the more pretty 

Je reviens, tel que  tu me vois,  

I  back    such that you me look 

D'un grand voyage en Italie,  

a     big trip    from itlay

Du paradis j'ai fait le tour; 

of paradise i   been the tour  

J'ai fait des vers, j'ai fait l'amour. 

i    been  the to   i    been  love

Mais que t'importe? 

but  the important

Je passe devant ta  maison; 

i  pass  before your house

Ouvre ta  porte. 

open  your door

Bonjour, Suzon! 

goodmorning   Sussie 

Je t'ai vue au temps des lilas. 

I  've  view of time the lilac

Ton coeur joyeux venait d'éclore. 

your hear joy    had    hatching

Et tu disais: "je ne veux pas, 

and you said   i  not want not

Je ne veux pas qu'on m'aime encore." 

i  not want not that love   yet 

Qu'as-tu fait depuis mon départ? 

that you  been  since  my departure

Qui part  trop tôt   tard revient trop tard. 

thatleave too early late back    too late. 

Mais que m'importe? 

but the important

Je passe devant ta maison; 

i   pass before  your house

Ouvre ta porte. 

open your door

Bonjour, Suzon! 

goodmorning sussie 

(Translated by Hyperion Records)

 Good morning, Susie, my flower of the woods!
 Are you still the prettiest?
 I return to see you
 from a great journey to Italy,
 Through paradise I have made a tour;
 I have made some verses and made love too.
 What's it to you?
 I pass before your house,
 open your door!
 Good morning, Susie!
 
 When I saw you in the time of lilacs,
 your heart was full of new found joy
 and you said, "I do not wish,
 I do not wish to be loved yet."
 What have you done since I left?
 He who leaves too soon, comes back too late;
 but what's it to me?
 I pass before your house;
 open your door!
 Good morning, Susie! 

Lilac-

a bush or small tree with sweet-smelling purple or white flowers