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Könnt' ich athmen ohne Weh, Wenn mein Liebster auf der See? Ach, mit Schrecken denk' ich dran, Daß der Feind ihn treffen kann! Wandern mag ich her und hin, Immer hab' ich ihn im Sinn, Und verträume meine Zeit Nur mit ihm, der weit -- weit! Auf der See und weit -- weit! Auf wilder See und weit -- weit! Ich verträume meine Zeit Nur mit ihm, der weit -- weit! Wenn mein Haupt in Sommers Glut Schmachtend auf dem Kissen ruht, Wogt um ihn vielleicht der Kampf, Der Kanone Pulverdampf. Kugeln, schonet meine Lust, Kugeln, sucht euch andre Brust! Gerne trag' ich alles Leid, Schont nur ihn, der weit -- weit! Wenn in Sturm und Winternacht Die geborstne Eiche kracht, Und vom Meere grimm und wild Der Kanonendonner brüllt: Streck' ich bei dem Doppelgraus Meine Arme betend aus, Und die besten Wünsche weiht Ihm mein Herz, der weit -- weit! Friede, lass den Oelbaum blühn, Und des Mordens Lust verglühn: Daß der Mensch, von Bosheit frei, Bruder seinem Bruder sei! Schirme dann vor Klipp' und Riff, Himmel, meines Liebsten Schiff! In die Arm' -- o Seligkeit! -- Führ' ihn mir, der weit -- weit! Auf der See und weit -- weit! Auf wilder See und weit -- weit! Ich verträume meine Zeit Nur mit ihm, der weit -- weit!
C. Krebs sets stanzas 1, 3, 4
Confirmed with Robert Burns’ Gedichte, deutsch von W. Gerhard, Leipzig: Verlag von Joh. Ambr. Barth., 1840, pages 292-293
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Seemanns Liebchen" [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On the seas and far away"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Carl August Krebs (1804 - 1880), "Seemanns Liebchen", op. 83, stanzas 1,3,4 [ voice, piano, and violoncello or violin obbligato ], Hamburg: Schuberth & Co. [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Joseph Haydn.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The sailor's beloved", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-12
Line count: 40
Word count: 209
Could I breathe without pain When my beloved is upon the sea? Oh, with dread I think that The enemy may strike him! Though I wander here and there, I always have him in my mind, And dream away my time Only with him who is far -- far away! Upon the sea and far -- far away! Upon the wild see and far -- far away! I dream away my time Only with him who is far -- far away! When in the heat of summer my head, Languishing, rests upon my pillow, About him the battle may be surging, The powder fumes of the cannon. Bullets, spare my joy, Bullets, seek another breast! Gladly would I bear all suffering, Only spare him, who is far -- far away! When in storm and winter’s night The split oak cracks, And from the sea, grimly and wildly, The thunder of the cannons roars: With a twofold shuddering I stretch out, Both my arms in prayer, And my heart dedicates its most fervent wishes To him, who is far -- far away! Peace, let the olive tree bloom, And the lust of murdering die away: That man, free from evil, May be a brother to his brother! Protect then from rock and reef, Heaven, the ship of my beloved! Into my arms -- oh bliss! -- Bring him who is far -- far away! Upon the sea and far -- far away! Upon the wild sea and far -- far away! I dream away my time Only with him who is far -- far away!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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 Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Seemanns Liebchen" [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "On the seas and far away"
This text was added to the website: 2017-12-19
Line count: 40
Word count: 253