Pie Jesus – Sarah Brightman

Simply a small beautiful spot in your day.

Translating songs is always a challenge, but this is one I like most. I did not translate it.  With songs, it is really the feeling that counts most. The lyrics and translation into English given in the CD-booklet of Voice of an Angel (1998) from Charlotte Church, for example, are:

Latin lyrics English translation
Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.

Agnus Dei, Angus Dei,
Agnus Dei, Angus Dei,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.
Sempiternam, sempiternam requiem.
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
You who take away the sins of the world;
Grant them peace,
Grant them peace.

Lamb of God, Lamb of God,
Lamb of God, Lamb of God,
You who take away the sins of the world;
Grant them peace,
Grant them peace.
Peace everlasting, everlasting.

The last line is actually “Everlasting, everlasting peace” of course. By the way, the translation of “requiem” as “peace” is, religiously speaking, not really correct: it is better to use “rest”, as in the first translation.