Die finstre Nacht bricht schnell herein, Der Sturmwind heult; mit Regen dräu'n Die trüben Wolken; schwärzlich stehn Sie über diesen nackten Höhn. Der Jäger wandert heim vom Moor, Das Rebhuhn duckt sich unters Rohr, Und ich, das Herz von Sorgen schwer, Geh' einsam hier entlang den Ayr. Der Herbst beweint sein reifend Korn, So früh schon von des Winters Zorn Zerstört; am Abendhimmel sieht Den Sturm er, wie er murrend flieht. Kalt wird in meiner Brust das Blut, Gedenk' ich der bewegten Flut, Und daß ich ziehn muß über Meer, Weit, weit von deinen Ufern, Ayr! 'S ist nicht die Brandung, die das Land Wild zürnend schlägt; nicht dieser Strand, Mit Trümmern manches Wracks bedeckt; Der kalte Sturmwind nicht - was schreckt Den Sohn des Elends? - aber trägt Mein wundes Herz nicht Fesseln? schlägt Es krampfhaft nicht, und blutet sehr, Da es sie bricht, dich meidend, Ayr? Lebt wohl, ihr Schluchten und ihr Seen, Ihr haidekrautbewachs'nen Höhn! Du grünes Thal, du stiller Pfad, Die meiner Liebe Schmerz ihr saht! - Freund! - Feind! - lebt wohl! Ich segn' euch gleich[.] Meine Lieb', mein Friede sei mit euch! O, dieser Thränensturz sagt mehr, Als Worte! - Lebe wohl, mein Ayr!
6 Lieder von Freiligrath nach R. Burns
by Henry Hugo Pierson (1816 - 1873), as Henry Hugo Pearson
1. Die Ayren‑Ufer  [sung text not yet checked]
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 4, first published 1838
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The gloomy night", title 2: "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]1. The Banks of Ayr  [sung text not yet checked]
The gloomy night is gath'ring fast, Loud roars the wild, inconstant blast, Yon murky cloud is foul with rain, I see it driving o'er the plain; The hunter now has left the moor. The scatt'red coveys meet secure; While here I wander, prest with care, Along the lonely banks of Ayr. The Autumn mourns her rip'ning corn By early Winter's ravage torn; Across her placid, azure sky, She sees the scowling tempest fly: Chill runs my blood to hear it rave; I think upon the stormy wave, Where many a danger I must dare, Far from the bonie banks of Ayr. 'Tis not the surging billow's roar, 'Tis not that fatal, deadly shore; Tho' death in ev'ry shape appear, The wretched have no more to fear: But round my heart the ties are bound, That heart transpierc'd with many a wound; These bleed afresh, those ties I tear, To leave the bonie banks of Ayr. Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales, Her healthy moors and winding vales; The scenes where wretched Fancy roves, Pursuing past, unhappy loves! Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those: The bursting tears my heart declare -- Farewell, the bonie banks of Ayr!
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "The gloomy night", title 2: "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Adieu aux rive de l'Ayr", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, page 342, titled "The gloomy night". In some other editions the title is "Farewell to the Banks of Ayr"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
2. Soldatenlied  [sung text not yet checked]
Nun holt mir eine Kanne Wein. Und laßt den Becher sein von Golde; Denn einen Trunk noch will ich weihn Vor meinem Abschied dir, O Holde! Am Damme dorten schwankt das Boot, Der Fährmann schilt, das ich verziehe, Am Baume drüben liegt das Schiff, Und ich muß lassen dich, Marie! Das Banner fliegt, in langer Reih Sicht glänzen man die blanken Speere, Von ferne tönt das Kampfgeschrei, Und schon begegnen sich die Heere. S'ist nicht der Sturmwind, nicht die See, Daß ich am Ufer hier verziehe, Auch nicht die laute Schlacht, 's ist nur, Daß ich dich lassen muß, Marie!
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 1
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The silver tassie"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "My bonnie Mary (Closely imitating Burns and Freiligrath)" [an adaptation]
2. The soldier's adieu  [sung text not yet checked]
Go fetch to me a pint o' wine, And fill it in a silver tassie; That I may drink, before I go, A service to my bonie lassie: The boat rocks at the Pier o' Lieth, Fu' loud the wind blaws frae the Ferry, The ship rides by the Berwick-law, And I maun leave my bony Mary. The trumpets sound, the banners fly, The glittering spears are ranked steady, The shouts o' war are heard afar, The battle closes deep and bloody. It 's not the roar o' sea or shore, Wad make me langer wish to tarry; Nor shouts o' war that 's heard afar - It's leaving thee, my bony Mary!
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The silver tassie"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]3. Des Jägers Heimweh  [sung text not yet checked]
Mein Herz ist im Hochland, mein Herz ist nicht hier! Mein Herz ist im Hochland, im wald'gen Revier! Da jag' ich das Rothwild, da folg' ich dem Reh, Mein Herz ist im Hochland, wo immer ich geh'. Mein Norden, mein Hochland, [lebt]1 wohl, ich muß ziehn! Du Wiege von Allem, was stark und was kühn! Doch, wo ich auch wandre und wo ich auch bin, Nach den Hügeln des Hochlands steht allzeit mein Sinn! Lebt wohl, ihr Gebirge mit Häuptern voll Schnee, Ihr Schluchten, ihr Thäler, du schäumender See, Ihr Wälder, ihr Klippen, so grau und bemoos't, Ihr Ströme, die zornig durch Felsen ihr tos't! Mein Herz ist im Hochland, mein Herz ist nicht hier! Mein Herz ist im Hochland, im wald'gen Revier! Da jag ich das Rothwild, da folg ich dem Reh, Mein Herz ist im Hochland, wo immer ich geh!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Mein Herz ist im Hochland", appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 9[11]
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "My heart's in the Highlands"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Ferdinand Freiligrath, Cassel: Ernst Balde, 1852, page 76.
Note: in Gade's score, this poem is misattributed to Wilhelm Müller.1 Tomášek: "leb"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
3. My Heart's in the Highlands  [sung text not yet checked]
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here: My heart's in the Highlands, a chasing the deer; [Chasing]1 the wild deer, and following the roe -- My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birthplace of valour, the country of worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. Farewell to the mountains high [cover’d]2 with snow; Farewell to the straths and green [valleys]3 below; Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods; Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods. My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands a chasing the deer; [Chasing]1 the wild deer, and following the roe -- My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "My heart's in the Highlands"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Mé srdce je v horách"
- POL Polish (Polski) (Jan Kasprowicz) , "Me serce jest w górach", Warsaw, first published 1907
Confirmed with The Works of Robert Burns, London: T. Tegg, Cheapside; C. Daly, Red Lion Square, MDCCCXL, page 384.
1 Arditti: "A-chasing"2 Arditti: "covered"
3 Gade: "vallies" (typo?)
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
4. John Anderson  [sung text checked 1 time]
John Anderson, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonie brow was brent; But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snaw; But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson, my jo! John Anderson, my jo, John, We clamb the hill thegither, And mony a cantie day, John, We've had wi' ane anither: Now we maun totter down, John, But hand in hand we'll go, And sleep thegither at the foot, John Anderson, my jo!
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "John Anderson, my jo"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Jan Andersen"
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Valter Juva) , "John Anderson"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "John Anderson, mon chéri", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (József Lévay) , "John Anderson"
- POL Polish (Polski) (Jan Kasprowicz) , "Dżon Anderson, ty mój!", Warsaw, first published 1907
- RUS Russian (Русский) (Mikhail Larionovich Mikhailov) , no title, first published 1856
Researcher for this page: Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
4. John Anderson, mein Lieb  [sung text checked 1 time]
John Anderson, mein Lieb, John, Als ich zuerst dich sah, Wie dunkel war dein Haar; Und wie glatt dein Antlitz da! Doch jetzt ist kahl dein Haupt, John, schneeweiß den Haar; und trüb' Dein Aug, doch Heil und Segen dir, John Anderson, mein Lieb. John Anderson, mein Lieb, John, Bergauf stiegst du mit mir: Und manchen lust'gen Tag, John, Zusammen hatten wir: Nun gehts der Berg hinab, John, Doch Hand in Hand! Komm gieb sie mir! In einem Grab' ruhn wir ... John Anderson, mein Lieb!
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "John Anderson, my jo"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]5. Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
O säh ich auf der Heide dort Im Sturme dich, im Sturme dich! Mit meinem Mantel vor dem Sturm Beschütz ich dich, beschütz ich dich! Und kommt mit seinem Sturme je Dir Unglück nah, dir Unglück nah, Dann wär dies Herz dein Zufluchtsort, Gern teilt ich's ja, gern teilt ich's ja. O wär ich in der Wüste, die So braun und dürr, so braun und dürr, Zum Paradiese würde sie, Wärst du bei mir, wärst du bei mir. Und wär ein König ich, und wär Die Erde mein, die Erde mein, Du wärst in meiner Krone doch Der schönste Stein, der schönste Stein!
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 3
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Oh wert thou in the cauld blast"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
5. Love  [sung text not yet checked]
O wert thou in the cauld blast On yonder lea, on yonder lea, My plaidie to the angry airt, I'd shelter thee, I'd shelter thee. Or did Misfortune's bitter storms Around thee blaw, around thee blaw, Thy [bield]1 should be my bosom To share it a', to share it a'. Or were I in the wildest waste, Sae black and bare, sae black and bare, The desert were a Paradise If thou wert there, if thou wert there. Or were I monarch of the globe, Wi' thee to reign, wi' thee to reign, The brightest jewel in my crown Wad be my queen, wad be my queen.
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Oh wert thou in the cauld blast"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "O, kdybys mraznou vichřicí…"
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (József Lévay) , "Oh, ha járnál ott a pusztán..."
Confirmed with The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns, edited by James Barke with an Introduction by John Cairney, Collins, Glasgow, 1995, Page 698.
1 note: in some editions, this is "shield"; "bield" means "shelter". Searching Google books, we can see that "bield" appears in more editions scanned than does "shield".Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
6. The Lass of Inverness  [sung text not yet checked]
The lovely lass o' Inverness, Nae joy nor pleasure can she see; For e'en [to]1 morn she cries, (Alas!) And ay the saut tear blins her e'e: « Drumossie moor, Drumossie day, A waefu' day it was to me ! For there I lost my father dear, My father dear and brethren three. Their winding-sheet the bluidy clay, Their graves are growing green to see, And by them lies the dearest lad That ever blest a woman's e'e! Now wae to thee, thou cruel lord, A bluidy man I trow thou be, For monie a heart thou has made sair That ne'er did wrang to thine or thee! »
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The lovely lass o' Inverness"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Dívka z Inverness"
- FRE French (Français) (Isabelle Cecchini) , "La jolie fille d'Inverness", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Die holde Maid von Inverness"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "L'amabile fanciulla di Inverness", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Jan Kasprowicz) , "Nadobna dziewka z Inverness", Warsaw, first published 1907
Confirmed with The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Cambridge edition, Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1897, page 250.
1 Beethoven: "and"
Researcher for this page: Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
6. Die Maid von Inverness  [sung text not yet checked]
Die süße Dirn' von Inverness Wird nun und nimmer wieder froh; Ihr einz'ger Gang ist in die Mess', Sie weint und seufzt, und sagt nur: O! Drumossie Moor, Drumossie Tag; O bitt'rer Tag, o blut'ger Moor! Wo kalt und starr mein Vater lag, Wo ich der Brüder drei verlor. Ihr Lailach ist der blut'ge Klee, Ihr Grab ist grün vom ersten Kraut, Der schmuckste Bursche liegt dabei, Den Mädchenaugen je geschaut! Nun wehe Dir, der Du die Schlacht gewanst, Und sä'test blut'ge Saat! Manch Herz hast Du betrübt gemacht, das Dir doch nichts zu Leide tat.
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Robert Burns. Elf Lieder [later 13 Lieder], no. 2
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The lovely lass o' Inverness"
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]