Was ist mir denn so wehe?
  Es liegt ja wie im Traum
Der Grund schon, wo ich stehe,
  Die Wälder säuseln kaum
Noch von der dunklen Höhe.
  Es komme wie es will,
Was ist mir denn so wehe -
  Wie bald wird alles still.

What is it that pains me so?
 It lies as if already in a dream,
The ground upon which I stand;
 The forests are hardly soughing
Still from the dark heights.
 Come what may,
What is it that pains me so -
 How soon everything becomes quiet.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer, in Auf meines Kindes Tod, no. 3
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Translated titles:
"Auf meines Kindes Tod" = "On the Death of My Child"
"Was ist mir denn so wehe?" = "What is it that pains me so?"
"Wehmuth" = "Melancholy"
"Traum" = "Dream"

This text was added to the website: 2013-08-08
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

  Freuden wollt' ich dir bereiten,
Zwischen Kämpfen, Lust und Schmerz
Wollt' ich treulich dich geleiten
Durch das Leben himmelwärts.

  Doch du hast's allein gefunden
Wo kein Vater führen kann,
Durch die ernste, dunkle Stunde
Gingst du schuldlos mir voran.

  Wie das Säuseln leiser Schwingen
Draußen über Thal und Kluft
Ging zur selben Stund' ein Singen
Ferne durch die stille Luft.

  Und so fröhlich glänzt der Morgen,
's war als ob das Singen sprach:
Jetzo lasset alle Sorgen,
Liebt ihr mich, so folgt mir nach!

  I wished to give you pleasure,
Among the battles, joys and sorrows
I wished to lead you faithfully
Through life toward heaven.

  But you found the way yourself
Where no father can lead,
Through the solemn, dark hour
You went innocently before me.

  As the rustling of quiet wings
Out over valley and chasm
At the same hour a singing was heard
Through the quiet air in the distance.

And the morning sparkles so joyously,
It seemed as if the singing spoke:
Leave off now all cares,
If you love me, follow me here!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer, in Auf meines Kindes Tod, no. 5
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English poem title: 5. of "On the Death of My Child"
English song title: On the Death of My Child II

This text was added to the website: 2013-07-31
Line count: 16
Word count: 95

Ich führt' dich oft spazieren
In Wintereinsamkeit,
Kein Laut ließ sich da spüren,
Du schöne, stille Zeit!
 
Lenz ist's nun, Lerchen singen
Im Blauen über mir,
Ich weine still - sie bringen
Mir einen Gruß von dir.

I often took you for a walk
In the loneliness of winter,
No sound let itself be heard then,
You beautiful, quiet time!

It is now spring, larks sing
In the blue heavens above me,
I weep quietly - they bring me
A greeting from you.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer, in Auf meines Kindes Tod, no. 6
  • Go to the text page.

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This text was added to the website: 2013-08-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Dort [ist so]1 tiefer Schatten,
Du schläfst in guter Ruh',
Es deckt mit grünen Matten
Der liebe Gott dich zu.

Die alten Weiden neigen
Sich auf dein Bett herein,
Die Vöglein in den Zweigen
Sie singen treu dich ein.

Und wie in goldnen Träumen
Geht linder Frühlingswind
Rings in den stillen Bäumen --
Schlaf wohl mein [süßes]2 Kind!

Yonder are such deep shadows,
You lie sleeping well in peace,
The dear God covers you up
with green meadows.

The old willows bow
Down upon your bed,
The little birds in their branches
Sing you to sleep faithfully.

And as if in golden dreaming
A mild spring wind passes
Through the quiet trees round about --
Sleep well, my sweet child!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer, in Auf meines Kindes Tod, no. 9
  • Go to the text page.

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English poem title: 9. of "On the Death of My Child"
English song title (Fielitz, Greith): Yonder are such deep shadows
English song title (Kaufmann): Sleep well, my child
English song title (Reinecke): On the Child's Death
English song title (Schottky, Seyffardt): On the Death of My Child

This text was added to the website: 2013-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 61