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Wenn die Wogen unten toben, Menschenwitz zu Schanden wird, Weist mit feur'gen Zügen droben Heimwärts dich der Wogen Hirt. Sollst nach keinem andern fragen, Nicht zurückschaun nach dem Land, Faß das Steuer, laß das Zagen! Aufgerollt hat Gottes Hand Diese Wogen zum Befahren Und die Sterne, dich zu wahren.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff's Werke. Erster Theil. Gedichte. Berlin. Verlegt von M. Simion. 1841, page 390, where it is titled "Schifferspruch"; and confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff's sämmtliche Werke. Zweite Auflage. Erster Band. Leipzig, Voigt & Günther. 1864, page 579, with no title, as no. 11 of Sprüche.
Note: Pfitzner's source was probably the 1883 edition.
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Schifferspruch", written 1839, appears in Gedichte, in 6. Geistliche Gedichte, Leipzig, Voigt & Günther, first published 1841 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Wilhelm Petersen (1890 - 1957), "Spruch", op. 44 no. 7, published 1956 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Erich Pfitzner (1869 - 1949), "Schlußgesang", op. 28, Heft 3 no. 7, published 1921, first performed 1922 [ satb quartet, mixed chorus and orchestra ], from Von deutscher Seele - Teil III - Der Liederteil, no. 7, Adolph Fürstner, Berlin [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Sailor's maxim", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canto finale", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2004-04-28
Line count: 10
Word count: 49
When the waves rage below, [When] mankind's cunning fails, With fiery gestures from above The shepherd of the waves shows you the way home. You should not ask for anyone else, [Should] not gaze back toward the land, Grasp the helm, leave off your apprehension! The hand of God has unfurled This wave so it may be sailed And [has set] the stars to preserve you.
Pfitzner's title in English: "Final song"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Schifferspruch", written 1839, appears in Gedichte, in 6. Geistliche Gedichte, Leipzig, Voigt & Günther, first published 1841
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-19
Line count: 10
Word count: 66