What is the meaning of song The Secret by Gabriel Fauré?

The song "The Secret" by Gabriel Fauré is set to a poem by Edmond Haraucourt. The poem revolves around the theme of love and longing. The speaker conveys a sense of secrecy and mystery surrounding the feelings experienced, suggesting that the love they feel must be kept hidden and safeguarded from revealing itself openly. The song thus becomes a reflection on the complexities and intensities of love.

Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses their longing for the beloved and their desire to remain close. They use imagery related to nature, such as the garden ("mon jardin secret") and the nightingale's song, to illustrate the delicate and ephemeral quality of love. The speaker emphasizes that their love must remain as a guarded secret, safe from potential harm or criticism from the outside world.

Lines such as "Mon coeur saigne au moindre frisson / Qui froisse un pli de ta tunique" (My heart bleeds at the slightest shudder/ That ruffles a fold of your tunic) convey the speaker's sensitivity and vulnerability in their love. They feel deeply affected and moved by every small detail associated with the beloved. The vulnerability is further showcased in lines such as "Mon ame en ton sein se balance" (My soul balances itself in your breast), highlighting how the speaker finds their emotional stability and equilibrium within the beloved.

The poem and the song both celebrate the private, innermost, and intense emotions of love. Through its poetic language and expressive music, "The Secret" by Gabriel Fauré offers a window into the complexities and intimacies of human情感.