Hier hab' ich so manches liebes Mal Mit meiner Laute gesessen, Hinunterblickend in's weite Thal, Mein selbst und der Welt vergessen. Und um mich klang es so froh und hehr Und über mir tagt' es so helle Und unten brauste das ferne Wehr Und der Weser blitzende Welle. Wie liebende Töne aus rothem Mund, So flüstert' es rings durch die Bäume, Und aus des Thales blühendem Grund Begrüßten mich nickende Träume. Da sitz' ich nun wieder und spähe umher Und horche hinauf und hernieder; Die holden Weisen klingen nicht mehr, Die Träume kommen nicht wieder: Die süßen Gestalten sind all zerstreut, Der Himmel beengt und trübe, -- Fahr' wohl, fahr' wohl, du selige Zeit, Fahr' wohl, du närrische Liebe!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Franz Dingelstedt, Gedichte, Cassel und Leipzig, J.E. Kriegersche Buchhandlung (Th. Fischer), 1838, pages 121-122
Text Authorship:
- by Franz Ferdinand, Freiherr von Dingelstedt (1814 - 1881), no title, appears in Gedichte [1838], in Wanderschaft, no. 8 [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 Carl Mahlberg , "An der Weser", op. 9 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1873 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Gustav Pressel.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Natalie Macfarren) , "By the Danube"
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "At the Weser River", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 118
How oft have I stray'd those banks beside, when day's last radiance was setting, and gazing forth o'er the valley wide, myself and the world forgetting. The birds were carolling loud and clear, high thoughts thro' my fancy were streaming: below me murmur'd the foaming weir; and afar the Danube was gleaming. Caressing like song from the lips we love, that fondly the spirit entrances, soft breezes stirr'd the boughs above, Hope lur'd me with beckoning glances. And now when I stray on the bank as of yore, and gaze o'er the widening river, I hear those tender carols no more, my hopes have vanish'd for ever. No dreamings sweet, no caressing lays, the heavens frown in derision! Farewell, farewell, ye halcyon days, oh love, thou wert but a vision!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Natalie Macfarren (1826 - 1916), "By the Danube" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Franz Ferdinand, Freiherr von Dingelstedt (1814 - 1881), no title, appears in Gedichte [1838], in Wanderschaft, no. 8
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 130