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Ach, warum weiter, du eilende Welle, Führst Du den sehnenden Menschen durch's Leben? Nimmer verweilend auf blumiger Stelle, Kann er der Freude sich nimmer ergeben! Weit schon hinter seinen Tritten Liegt die schöne goldne Zeit! Fern ist seine Seligkeit! Welt und ihrer Lust geweiht, Hat er tiefen Gram erlitten. Und aus seinem Blick entschwunden Ist der Zukunft goldner Schein. Nur Erinn'rung noch allein Mag zum Kranz ihm Blumen reihn, In der heil'gen Weihe Stunden. Fliehe, du eilende Welle, denn nimmer! Mag dich beschwören der Sterblichen Keiner. Doch in des Liedes unsterblichem Schimmer Wandelst du sanfter, und glänzest du reiner. Sturmwind saus't mit kaltem Flügel Über deinem dunkeln Gang. Sieh, du eilst die Wüst' entlang! Weit zurück ist Festesklang, Blumen welken dort am Hügel. Aber freundliche Gestalten Treten aus der dunkeln Nacht. Wunderbarer Schimmer lacht, Ausgeströmt von höh'rer Macht, Wo die milden Engel walten. Du auf des Lebens verrinnender Welle, Singe den Schützenden freundliche Lieder, Und es entblühen in zaubrischer Helle Blumen der lächelnden Kindheit dir wieder.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 37-38
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Lied" [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 (Franz) Carl Adalbert Eberwein (1786 - 1868), "Ach warum weiter, du eilende Welle" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Gottlieb Reissiger (1798 - 1859), "Ach warum weiter, du eilende Welle", op. 121 (7 Gesänge und Lieder für Bass oder Bariton) no. 2, published 1837 [ voice and piano ], Dresden, Paul [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-24
Line count: 32
Word count: 166
Ah, wherefore onward, you hurrying wave, Do you lead the longing man through life? Never lingering at a flowery spot, He can never give himself up to joy! Already far behind his footsteps Lies the beautiful, golden time! His bliss is far away! Committed to the world and its pleasures, He has suffered deep sorrow. And vanished to his gaze Is the golden radiance of the future. Only memory alone May still twine flowers into a wreath for him In the hours of holy dedication. Never flee then, you hurrying wave! No mortal is able to invoke you. But in the immortal shimmer of song You wander more gently, and you shine more purely. The storm wind roars with cold wings Over your dark course. See, you hurry along the desert! Far behind you are the sounds of festivity, There upon the hillside flowers wilt. But friendly figures Step out from the dark night. A wondrous shimmer, flooding forth From a higher power, laughs Where gentle angels preside. You, upon the diminishing wave of life, Sing amiable songs to those who protect you, And in magical brightness there bloom for you Again the flowers of smiling childhood.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translated titles:"Ach, warum weiter, du eilende Welle" = "Ah, wherefore onward, you hurrying wave"
"Lied" = "Song"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (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 German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Lied"
This text was added to the website: 2015-10-30
Line count: 32
Word count: 197