Wer es wüßte, wer es dächte
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Wer es wüßte, wer es dächte,
Was der Seele Frieden gibt, --
Wer mir's zeigte, wer mir's brächte,
Ewig sollt' er sein geliebt!
Ach, sie kommen und sie gehen,
Wechselnd fühl' ich Leid und Lust;
Aber einsam muß ich stehen
Mit dem Gott in meiner Brust.
Immer hör' ich's vor mir singen,
Wie ein halbverstandnes Wort;
Mit den süßen Tönen dringen
Will die ganze Seele fort.
Wie ein Kind, das heimwärts gehet
Und den Weg nicht findet aus, --
Doch ein Duft schon lieblich wehet
Um das Kind vom Vaterhaus.
Und so geh' nur muthig immer!
Bis die volle Sonne steigt,
Freue dich am bunten Schimmer,
Sei dem holden Wahn geneigt!
Einer gehet und der Andre
Mit dir nach dem gleichen Stern.
Kleine stille Schaar, -- so wandre
Süß vertraut, den Menschen fern!
J. Lang sets stanzas 1-3
About the headline (FAQ)
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Confirmed with C. Reinhold, Gedichte, Stuttgart: Carl Mäcken, 1853, pages 97-98.
First published in the periodical
Morgenblatt, August 13, 1841 (No. 193).
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) , "Song", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2009-03-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 131
Song
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Whoever would know, whoever would imagine
What gives the soul peace,
Whoever would show it to me, whoever would bring it to me
Should be eternally beloved.
Ah, they come and they go,
Alternately I feel pain and joy,
But I must remain standing alone
With the god in my bosom.
I always hear it singing before me,
Like a half-understood word;
With the sweet sounds
My entire soul wishes to press on to other realms,
Like a child that travels homeward
And cannot discern the way,-
Yet a scent from the father's house
Already wafts deliciously about the child.
And therefore walk on courageously!
Until the full sun rises,
Delight in the colourful shimmering,
Be open to the lovely illusion!
A few people here and there
Walk with you toward the same star,
Small, silent band - wander thus,
In sweet companionship, far from other mortals!
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Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 148