I give thee all -- I can no more -- Tho' poor the offering be; My heart and lute are all the store That I can bring to thee. A lute whose gentle song reveals The soul of love full well; And, better far, a heart that feels Much more than lute could tell. Tho' love and song may fail, alas! To keep life's clouds away, At least 'twill make them lighter pass, Or gild them if they stay. And even if Care at moments flings A discord o'er life's happy strain, Let Love but gently touch the strings, 'Twill all be sweet again!
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "My heart and lute" [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 Henry Rowley Bishop (1785 - 1855), "My heart and lute" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Frederick Brandeis (1835 - 1899), "My heart and lute", published 1899 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arthur Trickett , "I give thee all", published 1902 [ voice and piano ], in Vocalist (June) [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892) , "Herz und Laute", appears in Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, in Drittes Buch ; composed by Joachim Raff, Georg Vierling, Nicolai von Wilm.
- Also set in Norwegian (Bokmål), adapted by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Halfdan Kjerulf.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
Dir geb' ich Alles was ich habe, Und mag's auch wenig sein: Das Herz, die Laute -- diese Gabe Ist, was ich nenne mein. Die Laute, deren Klang so leis Von heißer Liebe klagt; Und dann das Herz, das mehr noch weiß Als Dir die Laute sagt. Wohl hindern Sang und Liebe nimmer Der düstern Wolken Zug; Doch leih'n sie ihnen gold'nen Schimmer Und fördern ihren Flug. Fällt in des Lebens Zaubersang Der Sorge Mißlaut ein, Und Liebe rührt der Saiten Klang, -- Tönt's wieder süß und rein!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, übertragen von Gisbert Freiherrn Vincke, Dessau: Druck und Verlag von Gebrüder Katz, 1853, page 116.
Text Authorship:
- by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892), "Herz und Laute", appears in Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, in Drittes Buch [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "My heart and lute"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Joseph) Joachim Raff (1822 - 1882), "Herz und Laute", op. 173 (Acht Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2 (1868-70), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Seitz [sung text not yet checked]
- by Georg Vierling (1820 - 1901), "Dir geb' ich Alles", op. 13 (Sechs Gedichte für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Herz und Laute", op. 84 (Vier Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 2, published 1889 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann [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: 2025-04-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 87