possibly by Friedrich Wilhelm Viol (1817 - 1874)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Unruhe
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Mein Herz ist voll, mein Haupt ist schwer,
Es treiben Gedanken sich drin umher
Und nirgend find’ ich Ruh’ noch Rast,
Weiss nicht, was so wunderbar mich erfasst.

Mir ist, als ob in der ganzen Welt
Nichts mehr sich traut zu mir gesellt,
Es ist so wüst um mich herum,
Mein Blick ist trübe, mein Mund ist stumm.

Ich sinn’ und sinne hin und her
Wo es am besten für mich noch wär’,
Und bin ich kaum an einem Ort,
Da treibt’s gewaltsam mich wieder fort.

Seit ich in’s Auge Dir geschaut,
Mein volles Herz Dir anvertraut,
Da ist es ganz um mich gescheh’n,
Ich möchte vor Pein und Lust vergeh’n.

O wüsstest Du mein Herzeleid,
Das Du mir schufst, Du süsse Maid!
Dann gäbe wohl dein Liebesblick
Mir Glück und Ruhe wieder zurück.

So trag’ ich still in meiner Brust
Das schwere Leid, Dir unbewusst;
Ich nehm’ es, meine ganze Hab’
Hinab mit mir in’s tiefe Grab.

Note: the Bürgel score gives the poet as "Dr. W. Viol"

Text 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) , "Unrest", 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: 2015-01-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 158

Unrest
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
My heart is full, my head is heavy,
Thoughts chase each other around within it,
And nowhere do I find rest or repose,
I know not what has so wondrously taken possession of me.

It seems to me as if in the whole world
Nothing lovingly keeps company with me,
It is so desolate all around me,
My eyes are bleary, my mouth is mute.

I ponder and my thoughts roam here and there
Where it might still be best for me,
And barely am I in one place,
When I am mightily driven away again.

Since I have gazed into your eyes,
Confided my full heart to you,
I am completely undone,
I could perish of sorrow and joy.

Oh, if you knew my heart’s suffering
That you caused me, you sweet maiden!
Then your loving glance would
Give me back joy and peace again.

As it is, I carry silently in my bosom
The heavy pain, unbeknownst to you;
I shall take it as my sole possession
Down with me into the deep grave.

Text 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2015-01-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 176