New, beautiful translation by Michele Herman
The Cathedral
Let’s start with a cathedral
and offer it some masts
and then a bowsprit and a towline
and a hold that’s deep and vast.
Let’s start with a cathedral
wide of belly, heaven-high
let’s fit it with a mainsail,
a flying jib to tack it by.
Let’s take this new cathedral
rooted to the Flemish soil
a cathedral up for sale
by some priests who weren’t loyal.
This cathedral made of marble
desanctimonified
let’s tow it through the meadow
til it slips into the tide.
Hoist the sails with lots of laughter
to England, let us glide.
How sweet this glimpse of England
from high above it all
though her teacups rain down trouble
at every port of call
Cornwall is quite something
with her ports in their morning dress
as we float along the border
of love and tenderness.
Let’s start with a cathedral,
and offer it some masts
and then a bowsprit and a towline
don’t wake up, let’s make this last.
With every sail a-hoisted
the seamen heave away
let’s go and chase a sperm whale
we’ll reach the Azores today.
To Madeira and her daughters,
the Canaries by midday
and on to the Antilles
laughing all the way
Let’s start with a cathedral
get the banner set
how the sails are singing
but don’t wake up just yet.
Christ, the Antilles are so gorgeous
they’ll almost knock you dead
they’ll lull you like a baby
but not yet, there’s more ahead.
I hear a big commotion
all hands on deck, my pals.
we’re entering the big one
the Panama Canal.
Our cathedral freed from Flanders
has found her sea legs now
let’s go and pluck some starlight
and let it light the prow.
And here is the Pacific
with its swells that roll so high
listen to it purring
to her islands we shall fly.
To a place that takes all comers
that lets you melt away
that offers absolution
in the island-wide bouquet.
Let’s start with a cathedral
get the banner set
and listen to the sails sing
but don’t wake up just yet
Let’s take our new cathedral
from the north with no regret
and go and fish for starlight
but don’t wake up just yet.
This cathedral’s made of marble
tow it through the forest fast
until the sea comes crashing
don’t wake up, let this last.
Don’t wake up, let this last.
I Loved
I loved pixies and sprites and sylphs
the starlit sky where fairies flew
I loved fires and tenderness
I was already dreaming of you.
I loved towers large and tall
where I could watch love come into view
I loved turrets and arrow slits
I was already spying on you.
I loved riding the crests of waves
noble willows that drooped as they grew
seaweed that twisted around my legs
I was already in training for you.
I loved to run until I fell down
I stayed up all night to feel the dew
I loved nothing without loving to death
I was already in love with you.
I loved summer just for the storms
I loved the lightning on the roof
I loved the way it lit up your face
I was already burning with you.
I loved the rain when it drowned the earth
and turned the world a darker hue
I loved the wind that chased the mist
I was already crying for you.
I loved towns on bitter cold nights
the barley and hops that made the brew
the depth of the currents that called me to bed
I was already forgetting you.
Jef
No Jef you’re not alone
but you can’t blubber on
like this in broad daylight
because that lousy broad
because that bottle blond
told you to take a hike.
No Jef you’re not alone
but I can’t bear to watch
you cry ‘til who knows when
right here out on the street
because that two-bit tramp
broke up with you again.
no Jef you’re not alone
I’m growing more disturbed
they’re making fun of us
please get up off the curb
come on Jef, come on.
Come on I’ve got a little cash
let’s go and drink it up —
Francoise’s! we’ll take a cab!
Come I’ve got a little cash
and if it’s not enough
they’ll put it on my tab
Then let’s go get a bite
we’ll order up some fries
some mussels and more fries
and some sweet moselle wine
and if you still feel blue
I hear there’s new recruits
at Madame Andree’s place
I hear they’re pretty fine.
We’ll sing our songs again
we’ll be as good as new
when we were young and brash
like back, back in the day when
we were flush with cash.
No Jef you’re not alone
but wipe away that scowl
and raise that tub of lard
and get up off the ground
I know your heart is heavy
yes I know it’s hard.
No Jef you’re not alone
you’ve had yourself a mope
quit your crying now
give us both a break
from all your talk of bridges
all your talk of rope.
No Jef you’re not alone
but you’re turning this old sidewalk
into a picture show
where people come to gawk
let’s go Jef, come on, come on.
Come on, I still have my guitar
I’ll set the strings on fire
and we’ll be famous stars.
Let’s go sit in the park
and talk until it’s dark
about America.
we’ll do our old routines
like back when we were kids
remember how we dreamed
our Rockefeller dreams.
And if you still feel sad
and if you’re asking why
I’ll cheer you up by singing
a cowboy lullaby.
We’ll be good, just us two
we’ll sing all our songs again
the songs of dashing men
back when we couldn’t miss
before we turned into… this.
Come on Jef, come, come, come.
Yeah, yeah, Jef, yeah, come.
