That was a long journey

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by Albert Sergel (1876 - 1946)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Das war eine lange Reise

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Das war eine lange Reise
durch eisige Wälder, weit, weit her.
Drum ruht euch nun ein Weilchen,
der Weg war steil und schwer.

Da liegt die Stadt im Tale,
schon hie und da ein Licht erwacht.
Noch eine kleine Stunde
dann blaut die Sternennacht.

Dann steigen wir hernieder
und bringen Freud von Haus zu Haus;
andächtigen Kindern teilen
wir schöne Gaben aus.

Die hat das Christuskindchen
liebselig selbst uns eingesteckt:
Äpfel und Mandeln und Feigen,
Nüsse und süßes Konfekt.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Ringelreihen: Kindergedichte von Albert Sergel, 11.-15. Tausend, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien & Bern: Franz Schneider Verlag, 1921, page 70.

Text Authorship:

by Albert Sergel (1876 - 1946), "St. Nicklas auf der Wanderschaft", appears in Ringelreihen: Kindergedichte [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 Heinrich Kaspar Schmid (1874 - 1953), "St. Niklas auf der Wanderschaft", op. 15 no. 21, published 1907/8 [ voice and piano ], from Ringelreihen: 21 Kinderlieder von Albert Sergel, no. 21, München: Wunderhornverlag [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-12-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 79

That was a long journey

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

That was a long journey
through icy woods, from far, far away.
Therefore, rest yourselves now a while;
the road was steep and difficult.

There lies the city in the valley,
already here and there a light is wakening.
Only a little hour now,
then the starry night shall become blue.

Then we shall descend
and carry joy from house to house;
to rapt children, we
distribute beautiful gifts.

The little Christchild himself
has lovingly tucked into our packs:
apples and almonds and figs,
nuts and sweet confections.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"St. Nicklas auf der Wanderschaft" = "St. Nicholas upon his pilgrimage"
"St. Niklas auf der Wanderschaft" = "St. Nicholas upon his pilgrimage"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Albert Sergel (1876 - 1946), "St. Nicklas auf der Wanderschaft", appears in Ringelreihen: Kindergedichte
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-01-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 88