Was lachst du so? Mich schmerzt der gelle Ton.
In Ernst und Frieden laß, und ohne Hohn,
Uns auseinandergehen -- willst du nicht?
Ich möchte noch einmal dein Angesicht
Im alten Zauber sehn und möchte mich
Der Zeit erinnern, die so rasch verblich
Und die so träumeselig, leicht und froh
Und liebetrunken war -- was lachst du so?
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 491.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Why do you laugh so?", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Pourquoi ris-tu ainsi ?", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2009-06-09
Line count: 8
Word count: 56
Pourquoi ris-tu ainsi ? Ce son strident me fait mal.
Séparons-nous avec sérieux et dans la paix,
Sans sarcasmes – ne le voudrais-tu pas ?
Je voudrais voir encore une fois de ton visage
L'ancienne magie, et je voudrais
Me rappeler le temps si vite estompé,
Temps de bonheur rêvé, léger et gai
Et ivre d'amour – pourquoi ris-tu ainsi ?