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Songs on the death of children
Translations © by Emily Ezust
Song Cycle by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)
View original-language texts alone: Kindertotenlieder
Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn, Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht geschehn! Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein! Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein! Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken, Mußt sie ins ew'ge Licht versenken! Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt! Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt!
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
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Now the sun will rise as brightly as if no misfortune had occurred in the night. The misfortune has fallen on me alone. The sun - it shines for everyone. You must not keep the night inside you; you must immerse it in eternal light. A little light has been extinguished in my household; Light of joy in the world, be welcome.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 61
Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen Ihr sprühtet mir in manchem Augenblicke. O Augen, gleichsam, um voll in einem Blicke Zu drängen eure ganze Macht zusammen. Doch ahnt' ich nicht, weil Nebel mich umschwammen, Gewoben vom verblendenden Geschicke, Daß sich der Strahl bereits zur Heimkehr schicke, Dorthin, von wannen alle Strahlen stammen. Ihr wolltet mir mit eurem Leuchten sagen: Wir möchten nah dir ... bleiben gerne! Doch ist uns das vom Schicksal abgeschlagen. Sieh' ... uns nur an, denn bald sind wir dir ferne! Was dir nur Augen sind in diesen Tagen: In künft'gen Nächten sind es dir nur Sterne.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Krankheit und Tod
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Now I see well why with such dark flames your eyes sparkled so often. O eyes, it was as if in one full glance you could concentrate your entire power. Yet I did not realize - because mists floated about me, woven by blinding fate - that this beam of light was ready to be sent home to that place whence all beams come. You would have told me with your brilliance: we would gladly have stayed near you! But it is refused by Fate. Just look at us, for soon we will be far! What to you are only eyes in these days - in future nights shall be stars to us.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Krankheit und Tod
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 110
Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein, Und den Kopf ich drehe, ihr entgegen sehe, Fällt auf ihr Gesicht erst der Blick mir nicht, Sondern auf die Stelle, näher nach der Schwelle, Dort, wo würde dein lieb Gesichten sein, Wenn du freudenhelle trätest mit herein, Wie sonst, mein Töchterlein. Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein, Mit der Kerze Schimmer, ist es mir, als immer Kämst du mit herein, huschtest hinterdrein, Als wie sonst ins Zimmer! O du, des Vaters Zelle, Ach, zu schnell erloschner Freudenschein!
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Krankheit und Tod
See other settings of this text.
When your mother steps into the doorway and I turn my head to see her, my gaze does not alight first on her face, but on the place nearer to the threshhold; there, where your dear face would be when you would step in with bright joy, as you used to, my little daughter. When your mother steps into the doorway with the gleam of a candle, it always seems to me as if you came in as well, slipping in behind her, just as you used to come into the room! O you, a father's cell, alas! too quickly you extinguish the gleam of joy!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Krankheit und Tod
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 23
Word count: 106
Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen, Bald werden sie wieder nach Hause gelangen, Der Tag ist schön, o sei nicht bang, Sie machen nur einen weiten Gang. Ja wohl, sie sind nur ausgegangen, Und werden jetzt nach Hause gelangen, O, sei nicht bang, der Tag ist schön, Sie machen nur den Gang zu jenen Höh'n. Sie sind uns nur voraus gegangen, Und werden nicht wieder nach Hause verlangen, Wir holen sie ein auf jenen Höh'n Im Sonnenschein, der Tag is schön auf jenen Höh'n.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
Go to the general single-text view
Often I think that they have only stepped out - and that soon they will reach home again. The day is fair - O don't be afraid - They are only taking a long walk. Yes: they have only stepped out and will now return home. O don't be anxious - the day is fair. They [are taking]1 a walk to those hills. They have simply gone on ahead: they will not wish to return [home]2. We'll catch up to them on those hills. In the sunshine the day is [fair]3.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 Mahler: "are only taking"
2 Mahler: "home again"
3 Mahler: "fair upon those hills"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 87
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus, Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus; Man hat sie getragen hinaus, Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen! In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus, Ich fürchtete sie erkranken; Das sind nun eitle Gedanken. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus, Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus; Ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen, Das ist nun nicht zu besorgen. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus! Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus! Man hat sie hinaus getragen, ich durfte nichts dazu sagen! In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus, Sie ruh'n als wie in der Mutter Haus, Von keinem Sturm erschrecket, Von Gottes Hand bedecket.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
Go to the general single-text view
In this weather, in this windy storm, I would never have sent the children out; They were carried outside - I could say nothing about it! In this weather, in this roaring storm, I would never have let the children out. I was afraid they had falllen ill, but these thoughts are now idle. In this weather, in this cruel storm, I would never have let the children out; I was worried they would die the next day - but this is now no concern. In this weather, in this cruel storm, I would never have sent the children out; They were carried outside - I could say nothing about it! In this weather, in this roaring, cruel storm, they rest as they did in their mother's house: they are frightened by no storm, and are covered by the hand of God.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Kindertodtenlieder, in Trost und Erhebung
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 139