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Es weht ein sanfter Abendwind Liebtosend in den Bäumen; Ob Vögel, die entschlafen sind, Von sel'ger Liebe träumen? Sei still! Es rauscht in Gipfeln leise Nie eines Mährchens traute Weise: Ade, ade, mein Lieb, Noch einen Kuß mir gib! Es schlägt im Wald die Nachtigall Gar träumerische Lieder, Und auch des Abendglöckleins Schall Hallt schwermuthsbange wieder. Sei still! Die Welt ist traumeslüstern Und Millionen Lippen flüstern: Ade, ade, mein Lieb, Noch einen Kuß mir gib! Die Erde ist vom Mondenlicht Mit Silberglanz umgössen; O stör' die Braut, die sel'ge, nicht, Ihr Aug' ist liebumflossen. Sie schauet in die Nacht mit Lauschen Und hört des Baches Wellen rauschen: Ade, ade, mein Lieb, Noch einen Kuß mir gib! Dort brennt ein Licht im Kämmerlein; Ein Jüngling liegt im Sterben. Ist dieser Erdenball zu klein, Daß Blüthen auch verderben? Sei still! Die Augen wollen brechen, Ich hör' die Lippen lächelnd sprechen: Ade, ade, mein Lieb, Noch einen Kuß mir gib!
Text Authorship:
- by Carl (or Karl) Ferdinand Haltaus (1811 - 1848), "Sei still" [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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Sei still", op. 60 no. 5, published 1847, from 10 Lieder [opp. 60 and 61], no. 5, Offenbach, André [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Sei still!", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 6 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Wilhelm) Bernhard Molique (1802 - 1869), "Sei still", op. 34 (Sechs Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) ) no. 2, published 1848 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Müller [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Be still", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-21
Line count: 32
Word count: 157
A gentle evening wind blows,
Resounding with love in the trees;
Will the birds that have fallen asleep
Dream of blessed love?
Be still! It rustles quietly across the treetops,
Not like the little mare’s familiar path:
Farewell, farewell, my love,
Give me yet one more kiss!
The nightingale calls through the forest
Songs of dreamlike fantasy,
And even the peal of little evening bells
Resounds with deep melancholy.
Be still! The world desires reverie
And a million lips whisper:
Farewell, farewell, my love,
Give me yet one more kiss!
The earth is awash
With moonlight’s silvery glance;
Oh, do not startle the bride, the blessed one,
Her eye overflows with love.
She peers into the night, listening intently,
And hears the rush of the rippling brook:
Farewell, farewell, my love,
Give me yet one more kiss!
There, a light burns in the little room;
A youth lies dying.
Is this earthly globe too small,
That such blooms must also decay?
Be still! As eyes are dimming,
I hear smiling lips say:
Farewell, farewell, my love,
Give me yet one more kiss!
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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Carl (or Karl) Ferdinand Haltaus (1811 - 1848), "Sei still"
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-26
Line count: 32
Word count: 182