Anti-war song by Barbara: The Orchard in Lorraine

By Tracy Ryan

This translation takes liberties in order to give the "feel" of the tightly rhymed and very moving original. (The original rhymes ABAB virtually all the way through and has one extended line, beyond the normal bars of music: Which was denied them/ For the sake of an old refrain).

On my CD, it says words by Barbara, music by Jean Poissonnier; other sources indicate vice versa. In either case, it's a powerful song.

I translated it a few days ago, on the 40th anniversary of my grandmother's death; she was in her late teens during WWI, and she and her sister both lost boyfriends to the war.

The Orchard in Lorraine

All the blood that was shed
By men upon the plain 
And all who passed away 
From causes unexplained 
Have led to this orchard 
Where crowding each lane 
Roses and apple trees
And marjoram reign

All those who have cried 
That their death was in vain 
All those who have wept 
Face down in the vervain 
All those who drew here 
Their last breath in pain 
Have made of this orchard 
On a bank in Lorraine
A soft space for lovers
As seasons come again.

All those overthrown 
Where no time remains 
To say, What I love
Is your eyes, amazed. 
All those fiancées
Who waited in vain
Those men torn away 
Before vows were obtained 
Smile now to see
The lovers who came
To lie on the grass here 
With their lips aflame

All those who left love 
However mundane
With limbs that were shattered 
No blood in their veins,
All those we have wept
In former wars slain
Those we’ve forgotten,
The nameless, the plain,
Rise now to sing
When the lovers attain 
Carefree and peaceful
The gentle exchange
Which was denied them
For the sake of an old refrain.

All the blood that was shed 
By men upon the plain

And all who passed away 

From causes unexplained 
Have led to this orchard 
Where crowding each lane 
Roses and apple trees
And marjoram reign
Have made of this orchard 
On a bank in Lorraine
A soft space for lovers
As seasons come again 

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