Song Book of Hafis

Translations © by Laura Prichard

Song Cycle by Viktor Ullmann (1898 - 1944)

View original-language texts alone: Liederbuch des Hafis

1. Vorausbestimmung
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Alles ist vorausbestimmt
Durch die große Güte Allahs,
Ach, was soll ich tun?

Ich bin längst vorausbestimmt
Für den Wein und für die Schenke
Ach, was soll ich tun?

Wie die Vögel ihre Büsche,
Wie die Rehe ihre Wälder
Lieben durch Vorausbestimmung,
Also liebe ich alleine
Wein und Schenke und die Schenkin, -

Alles ist vorausbestimmt
Durch die große Güte Allahs,
Ach, was soll ich tun?

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Confirmed with Die Lieder und Gesänge des Hafis, YinYang Media Verlag


by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
1. Predetermination
Language: English 
Everything is predetermined
Through the great goodness of Allah,
Ah, what can I do?

I have long been destined
For wine and for the tavern.
Ah, what can I do?

As birds love their bushes,
As deer love their woods,
Through predetermination,
Therefore I love only
Wine and tavern and barmaid, -

Everything is predetermined
Through the great goodness of Allah,
Ah, what can I do?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 65

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Betrunken
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hafis, du bist betrunken
Ich sehs an deinem Schatten,
An diesem Taumelschatten,
Der sich so toll gebärdet,
Als käm er aus dem Tollhaus!

Ei, welch verrückter Schatten
Im allzu hellen Mondschein!
Das fuchtelt und das biegt sich
Und stolpert hin und reckt sich
Aufwärts und nach den Seiten, -
Ei, welch grotesker Schatten,
Welch indiskreter Mondschein!

Nie hab ichs glauben wollen,
Wenn scheltend mich Suleima
Beschwor, ich sei betrunken, -
Jetzt muß ichs wahrlich glauben:
Ich bin ein würdeloser,
Ein aller Anmut barer,
Ein ganz betrunkner Trinker
Mit einem Taumelschatten
Im indiskreten Mondschein!

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by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
2. Drunk
Language: English 
"Hafiz, you are drunk
I can see from your shadow,
From this frenzied shadow,
Which behaves as madly,
As if it came from the madhouse!

Oh, what a crazy shadow
In [this] all too bright moonlight!
It waves about and bends itself
And stumbles and reaches
Upwards and sideways, -
Oh, what a grotesque shadow,
What indiscreet moonlight!"

I never wanted to believe it,
When Suleima scolded me
Swearing, I was drunk, -
Now I must really believe her:
I am undignified,
Devoid of grace,
A totally drunk drinker
With a frenzied shadow
Under the indiscreet moonlight!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 21
Word count: 95

Translation © by Laura Prichard
3. Unwiderstehliche Schönheit
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Durch deine schönen Locken werden
Die Heiden und die Glaubensstarken
In gleicher Weise sinnverwirrt.

Die schwachen Seelen stürzen taumelnd
In deiner Wangen holde Grübchen,
Die starken Seelen stürzen nach.

Dein Aug, das von der schwarzen Kunst 
Geschaffen ward, lenkt aus den Wolken
Des Adlers Flug zu sich zurück.

Die zarte Nachtigall, die nicht
Aufsteigen kann in Wolkenfernen,
Ist ganz und gar in deinem Bann.

Hafis vergaß um deinetwillen
Die Morgen- und die Nachtgebete,
Klar ist sein Seelenuntergang!

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by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
3. Irresistible beauty
Language: English 
Due to your beautiful locks
The pagans and the true believers
In the same way become befuddled.

The weak souls plunge reeling
Into the lovely dimples of your cheeks,
The strong souls plunge in after.

Your eyes, through the darkest arts
created, entice down from the clouds
The eagle, who flies back to you.

The sweet nightingale, who can't
Ascend to the furthest clouds,
Is totally, completely under your spell.

Hafiz forgot, for your sake
To say morning and evening prayers,
Clearly, his soul is doomed!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 15
Word count: 86

Translation © by Laura Prichard
4. Lob des Weines  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gebt meinen Becher! Seht, er überstrahlt
Die blasse Lampe der Vernunft, so wie
Die Sonne die Gestirne überstrahlt!

Gebt meinen Becher! Sämtliche Gebete
Meines Breviers will ich vergessen, alle
Suren des Korans stürz ich in den Wein!

Gebt meinen Becher! Und Gesang erschalle
Und dringe zu den tanzenden Sphären auf
Mit mächtigem Schwung! Ich bin der Herr der Welt!

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Die Lieder und Gesänge des Hafis, YinYang Media Verlag. ISBN 3-935727-03-8.

by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
4. In praise of wine
Language: English 
Give me my mug! Behold, it outshines
The pale light of reason, just like
The sun outshines the stars!

Give me my mug! All the prayers
In my breviary would I forget, all
Chapters of the Qur’an, as I plunge into my wine!

Give me my mug! And singing will resound
And penetrate through the dancing spheres
With a powerful flourish! I am the Lord of the World!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 9
Word count: 68

Translation © by Laura Prichard