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Underneath an abject willow, Lover, sulk no more: Act from thought should quickly follow. What is thinking for? Your unique and moping station Proves you cold; Stand up and fold Your map of desolation. Bells that toll across the meadows From the sombre spire Toll for these unloving shadows Love does not require. All that lives may love; why longer Bow to loss With arms across? Strike and you shall conquer. Geese in flocks above you flying. Their direction know, [Icy brooks beneath you flowing, To their ocean go. Dark and dull is your distraction]1: Walk then, come, No longer numb Into your satisfaction.
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, 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.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Britten:
Brooks beneath the thin ice flowing, To their ocean go. Coldest love will warm to action
Authorship:
- by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), no title, appears in Look, Stranger!, first published 1936 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Underneath the abject willow", 1937, published 1937 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos with piano ], from Two Ballads for two voices and piano, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Underneath the abject willow", published c1942 [ high voice and piano ], from Fish in the unruffled lakes : Six Auden Settings for High Voice and Piano, no. 6, note: collected into one publication in 1997 [sung text not yet checked]
- by James Myron Cohn (b. 1928), "Underneath an abject willow", 1969 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Three Phases of Love [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Drakeford , "Underneath an abject willow" [ baritone and piano ], from Four songs [sung text not yet checked]
- by T. Wallace Southam , "Underneath the abject willow", published 1966 [ voice and piano ], from Poetry Set in Jazz [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Elaine Marie Ortiz-Arandes) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Elaine Marie Ortiz-Arandes
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 104
Unter der hängenden Weide, Geliebter, schmolle nicht länger; Das Handeln soll dem Gedanken rasch folgen: Wofür ist das Denken sonst da? Dein einsamer und trüber Standpunkt Bekunden deine Kälte; Steh auf und überwinde Deine Gedanken der Trostlosigkeit. Ihr Glöcken, die über die Wiese läutet Aus dem düsteren Kirchturm, Läutet für jene lieblosen Schatten, Die die Liebe nicht verlangen. Alles, was lebt, soll lieben; Warum sich weiter dem Verlust beugen, Mit verschränkten Armen? Greif zu und du wirst siegen. Die Gänseschar, die über dir fliegt, Weiß ihre Richtung, Die Bäche, die unter der dünnen Eisschicht fließen, Strömen zu ihren Ozeanen. Die kälteste Liebe erwärmt sich durch Handeln; Geh also, und finde Nicht länger betäubt, Zu deiner eigenen Zufriedenheit.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 by Elaine Marie Ortiz-Arandes, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), no title, appears in Look, Stranger!, first published 1936
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 117