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Leb wohl, Frau Welt

Song Cycle by Gottfried von Einem (1918 - 1996)

1. Im Nebel
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Einsam ist jeder Busch und Stein,
Kein Baum sieht den andern,
Jeder ist allein.

Voll Freunden war mir die Welt,
Als noch mein Leben licht war;
Nun, da der Nebel fällt,
Ist keiner mehr sichtbar.

Wahrlich, keiner ist weise,
Der nicht das Dunkel kennt,
Das unentrinnbar und leise
Von allen ihn trennt.

Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Leben ist Einsamsein.
Kein Mensch kennt den andern,
Jeder ist allein.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Im Nebel", written 1905

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
  • ENG English [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "In the mists", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dans le brouillard", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • IRI Irish (Gaelic) [singable] (Gabriel Rosenstock) , "Sa cheobhrán", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Nebbia", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

2. Vorfrühling
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Föhn schreit jede Nacht,
Sein feuchter Flügel flattert schwer.
Brachvögel taumeln durch die Luft.
Nun schläft nichts mehr,
Nun ist das ganze Land erwacht,
Der Frühling ruft.

Bleib still, bleib still, mein Herz!
Ob auch im Blute eng und schwer
Die Leidenschaft sich rührt
Und dich die alten Wege führt --
Nicht jugendwärts 
Gehn deine Wege mehr.
Nun schläft nichts mehr,
Nun ist das Land erwacht.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Vorfrühling", written 1908, appears in Unterwegs, first published 1911

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Prémices du printemps", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 140-141.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

3. Der Brief
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es geht ein Wind von Westen,
Die Linden stöhnen sehr,
Der Mond lugt aus den Ästen
In meine Stube her.

Ich habe meiner Lieben,
Die mich verlassen hat, 
Einen langen Brief geschrieben,
Der Mond scheint auf das Blatt.

Bei seinem stillen Scheinen,
Das über die Zeilen geht,
Vergisst mein Herz vor Weinen
Schlaf, Mond und Nachtgebet.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Der Brief", written 1902

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La carta", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The letter", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La lettre", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 121.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

4. Wache Nacht
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bleich blickt die föhnige Nacht herein,
Der Mond im Wald will untergehn.
Was zwingt mich doch mit banger Pein
Zu wachen und hinauszusehn?

Ich hab geschlafen und geträumt;
Was hat mir mitten in der Nacht
Gerufen und so bang gemacht,
Als hätt ich Wichtiges versäumt?

Am liebsten liefe ich vom Haus,
Vom Garten, Dorf und Lande fort
Dem Rufe nach, dem Zauberwort,
Und weiter und zur Welt hinaus.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Wache Nacht", written 1946

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Wakeful night", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 378.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

5. Traurigkeit
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die mir noch gestern glühten,
Sind heut dem Tod geweiht,
Blüten fallen um Blüten
Vom Baum der Traurigkeit.

Ich seh sie fallen, fallen
Wie Schnee auf meinen Pfad,
Die Schritte nicht mehr hallen,
Das lange Schweigen naht.

Der Himmel hat nicht Sterne,
Das Herz nicht Liebe mehr,
Es schweigt die graue Ferne,
Die Welt ward alt und leer.

Wer kann sein Herz behüten
In dieser bösen Zeit?
Es fallen Blüten um Blüten
Vom Baum der Traurigkeit.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Traurigkeit", written 1944

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Tristor", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Sadness", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 376.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

6. Nacht
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich habe meine Kerze ausgelöscht;
Zum offenen Fenster strömt die Nacht herein,
Umarmt mich sanft und läßt mich ihren Freund
Und ihren Bruder sein.

Wir beide sind am selben Heimweh krank;
Wir senden ahnungsvolle Träume aus
Und reden flüsternd von der alten Zeit
In unsres Vaters Haus.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Die Nacht", subtitle: "(1907)", written 1907, appears in Unterwegs, first published 1911

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

7. Leb wohl, Frau Welt
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es liegt die Welt in Scherben,
Einst liebten wir sie sehr,
Nun hat für uns das Sterben
Nicht viele Schrecken mehr.

Man soll die Welt nicht schmähen,
Sie ist so bunt und wild,
Uralte Zauber wehen
Noch immer um ihr Bild.

Wir wollen dankbar scheiden
Aus ihrem großen Spiel;
Sie gab uns Lust und Leiden,
Sie gab uns Liebe viel.

Leb wohl, Frau Welt, und schmücke
Dich wieder jung und glatt,
Wir sind von deinem Glücke
Und deinem Jammer satt.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Leb wohl, Frau Welt", written 1944

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 470
Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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