by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Nichts
Language: German (Deutsch)
Nennen soll ich, sagt ihr, meine Königin im Liederreich? Toren, die ihr seid, ich kenne Sie am wenigsten von euch. Fragt mich nach der Augen Farbe, Fragt mich nach der Stimme Ton, Fragt nach Gang und Tanz und Haltung, Ach, und was weiß ich davon! Ist die Sonne nicht die Quelle Alles Lebens, alles Lichts? Und was wissen von derselben Ich, und ihr, und alle? -- Nichts.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864), "Nichts", appears in Die letzten Blätter [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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Nichts", op. 10 (Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" von Hermann von Gilm) no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Res", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Dicht", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Nothing", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "Nought", first published 1897
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Rien", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Niente", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- JPN Japanese (日本語) (Naoyuki Okada) , "なにも", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 66
Nought
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
So, you want me to name my Queen in the bright land of song? Fools all that you are, I know her Less than you who 'round me throng. Ask me what's her eyes' soft colour, What her voice and does it please; What her gait, complexion, figure? Ah! and what care I for these! Is the sun in heaven not source of Life and light and all things wrought? Say, what know we but its splendour You, or I, or others? Nought!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "Nought", first published 1897 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864), "Nichts", appears in Die letzten Blätter
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-10-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 83