by
Ernest Welisch (1875 - 1941)
Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen,
Dann erfüllt mein Herz ein tiefes Sehnen,
Einmal möchte ich dich wiedersehen,
Einmal mit dir durch den Frühling gehen;
So wie heute hör' ich deine Worte,
Seh mich stehen an des Gartens Pforte,
Fühl den Hauch der ersten süssen Sünde,
Da das Weib erwacht im Kinde!
Hab mein junges Leben heiss dir hingegeben!
Alles, alles hab' ich dir geschenkt,
Bin zu dir gekommen, du hast mich genommen,
Wie man oft Blumen pflückt unterwegs.
Kann es nimmer fassen, du hast mich verlassen,
Lächelnd so, als wäre nichts geschehen.
Nun bin ich alleine, fühle nur das Eine:
Nimmer mehr werd' ich dich sehn!
Doch wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen,
Dann erwacht das alte süsse Sehnen.
Aus des grauen Alltags Leid und Schmerzen,
blühts wie eine Rose auf im Herzen.
Nahmst du mir auch meinen reinen Glauben,
mein Gedenken kannst du mir nicht rauben.
Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen, muss ich lächeln unter Tränen!
Wenn die Abendglocken tönen, denke ich an Dich!
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 Franz Lehár (1870 - 1948), "Erste Liebe", alternate title: "Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen", published 1923 [ voice and piano ], Published as 'Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen' by the Wiener Bohème Verlag (1923) and as 'Erste Liebe' by Glocken Verlag (1943); confirmed with Wigmore Hall concert programme, 12-11-23. [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Iain Sneddon) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2023-11-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 164
When the evening bells ring softly
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
When the evening bells ring softly,
Then my heart is filled with a deep longing,
One day I want to see you again
Walking through the spring with you once more;
Just like today, I hear your words,
See myself standing at the garden gate,
Feel the breath of the first sweet sin,
When the woman awakens in the child!
I gave up my young life to you!
Everything, everything I have given you,
I came to you, you took me,
As you often pick flowers by the path.
I can't believe that you've left me,
Smiling, as if nothing had happened.
Now I'm alone, feeling only one thing:
I shall never see you again!
But when the evening bells ring softly,
Then the old, sweet longing re-awakens.
Out of the grey of everyday suffering and pain,
It blossoms like a rose in my heart.
Even if you take away my pure faith,
you cannot steal my memory.
When the evening bells ring softly, I must smile through my tears!
When the evening bells ring, I think of you!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Erste Liebe" = "First Love"
"Wenn die Abendglocken leise tönen" = "When the evening bells ring softly"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Iain Sneddon, (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: 2023-11-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 179
