The English version presented below is a literal, word-for-word translation. It attempts to preserve the poet's word order as far as possible, for a better appreciation of the composer's musical treatment of individual words and phrases.

Rien n'est fini. Tout recommence.

Rupture toujours ajournée!

C'est comme un vieux bout de romance

Qu'on chanta toute une journée.

Un moment on croit qu'on l'oublie.

On marche sans en avoir cure.

Mais la ritournelle abolie

Couve dans la mémoire obscure.

Un beau jour qu'on prête l'oreille

A des bruits vagues, l'on s'étonne

D'entendre la petite abeille

Qui dans sa ruche encor chantonne.

Et voilà qu'on redit sans trève

Le bout oublié de romance.

On retourne à son ancien rêve.

Rien n'est fini. Tout recommence.

Jean Richepin

Nothing is over. Everything starts afresh.

The final parting is always postponed!

It is like some old snatch of romance

That one sang for a whole day.

One moment you think you have forgotten it;

You walk without a care.

But the banished ritornello

Gestates in the back of the memory.

One fine day, when one lends an ear

To some vague noises, one is surprised

To hear the little bee

Still humming in its hive.

And one finds oneself repeating without respite

That forgotten bit of romance.

One returns to the old dream.

Nothing is over. Everything starts afresh.

Recorded 19 October 2007