Es geht ein Wand'rer durch die Nacht
Language: German (Deutsch)
Es geht ein Wand'rer durch die Nacht
Mit gutem Schritt;
Und krummes Tal und lange Höhn -
Er nimmt sie mit.
Die Nacht ist schön -
Er schreitet zu und steht nicht still,
Weiß nicht, wohin sein Weg noch will.
Da singt ein Vogel durch die Nacht.
"Ach Vogel, was hast du gemacht!
Was hemmst du meinen Sinn und Fuß
Und gießest süßen Herz-Verdruß
In's Ohr mir, daß ich stehen muß
Und lauschen muß -
Was lockst du mich mit Ton und Gruß?"
Der gute Vogel schweigt und spricht:
"Nein, Wandrer, nein! Dich lock' ich nicht
Mit dem Getön.
Ein Weibchen lock' ich von den Höhn -
Was geht's dich an?
Allein ist mir die Nacht nicht schön -
Was geht's dich an? Denn du sollst gehn
Und nimmer, nimmer stille stehn!
Was stehst du noch?
Was tat mein Flötenlied dir an,
Du Wandersmann?"
Der gute Vogel schwieg und sann:
"Was tat mein Flötenlied ihm an?
Was steht er noch?
Der arme, arme Wandersmann!"
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- by Wolfgang Michael Rihm (1952 - 2024), "Der Wandrer", 2001 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Gedichte von Friedrich Nietzsche, no. 3, confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg (1874 - 1951), "Der Wanderer", op. 6 (8 Lieder) no. 8 (1903-5) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Grete von Zieritz (1899 - 2001), "Der Wanderer", op. 52 (5 Gesänge für 4 Singstimmen und Klavier) no. 2 [ baritone and piano ], note: this set contains only three songs [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 29
Word count: 159
A wanderer travels through the night
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
A wanderer travels through the night
With steady stride;
And curving valley and towering highlands –
He takes them along.
The night is beautiful –
He walks on, never remaining still,
Knowing not where his path leads.
There is a bird singing through the night.
“Ah bird, what have you done!
Why do you bind my spirit and my step
And pour your heart’s sweet sorrow
Into my ear, so that I must stand
And I must listen –
Why do you beguile me with calls and greetings?
The good bird became quiet and spoke:
“No, wanderer, no! I don’t wish to beguile you
With my singing.
I’m wooing a wife down from the heights –
What has it to do with you?
Alone, the night is not pleasant for me –
What has it to do with you? For you should go
And never, ever remain still!
Why are you still standing there?
What has my piping song to do with you,
You vagabond?”
The good bird became silent and considered:
What had my piping song to do with him?
Why did he remain standing there?
That poor, poor vagabond!”
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 29
Word count: 191
