Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Warum muss, ach, das Scheiden sein, Das Scheiden? Darum man muss so bittre Pein Erleiden? Kein bösres Wort in aller Welt! Tod spricht es! Und wem es recht auf's Herze fällt[,] Dem bricht es. Halt was du liebst, fest an der Brust! O scheue dich! Zusammen trägt sich Leid und Lust So freudig! Warum muss, ach, das Scheiden sein! Tod spricht es! Und wem es recht auf's Herze fällt[,] Dem bricht es.
The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), "Scheiden", written 1845, appears in Gedichte, in Lieder und vermischte Gedichte, first published 1853
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Scheiden", op. 43 (Fünf Gesänge für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1878), published 1879 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Ebner [sung text checked 1 time]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Scheiden", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) (Harald Krebs) , "Parting", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 72
Oh why must there be parting, Parting? Through which one must such bitter pain Endure? No word more evil in all the world! It speaks [of] death; And the person onto whose heart it falls[,] That person's heart breaks. Clasp what you love tightly to your breast! Take care! Together, sorrow and joy can be borne So happily! Oh why must there be parting? It speaks [of] death;1 And the person onto whose heart it falls[,] That person's heart breaks.
Note for stanza 1, line 6: This line is ambiguous; it could also mean "Death utters it" (i.e., the word "parting").
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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 Not Applicable [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), "Scheiden", written 1845, appears in Gedichte, in Lieder und vermischte Gedichte, first published 1853
This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 81