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Hinwerfen auf den Strassen Will ich mein blutend Herz. Die Vögel mögen's haben; Ich will sie seh'n gelassen, Die Krähen und die Raben Mich zwingend noch zum Scherz. Hinwerfen aus die Strassen Will ich mein blutend Herz. So wird es doch zerrissen Mit meinem Willen sein. Sei's [dann]1 in eitle Flitter Zertheilt mit meinem Wissen, Wenn es zerschellt in Splitter Bewahrt noch ein'gen Schein. [Doch wird es dann]2 zerrissen Mit meinem Willen sein. Muß mich denn jezt nicht reuen Die lange strenge Hut? Warum so ängslich sparen Wo sich die Andern freuen? Warum sein Herz bewahren Gleich anvertrautem Gut? Muß mich nicht jezt gereuen Die Sorgfalt und die Hut? Um es nun zu verschwenden An sie, die's nie begreift, Die mir zu tausend Schmerzen Mit ungelenken Händen Nun auch nach meinem Herzen Gleich anderm Spielzeug greift. Mußt' ich denn so verschwenden Mein Herz, nachdem's gereift? Durch's Herz, das bisher ganze, Ist schon der Riß gethan. [Es ist nun]3 schon bethöret, Nicht mehr in seinem Glanze, So mag's auch ganz zerstöret Nun sein, was liegt [noch dran]<4? Durch's Herz, das bisher ganze, Ist schon der Riß gethan. Ja! werfen auf die Strassen Will ich mein blutend Herz. Die Vögel mögen's haben. Wenn mich die Seel' verlassen, Mag man den Leib begraben. Was kümmert euch mein Schmerz? Hinwerfen auf die Strassen Will ich mein blutend Herz.
W. Goethe sets stanzas 1, 2, 5, 6
Confirmed with Gedichte von Berthold Staufer, Stuttgart: A. Liesching & Comp., 1841, pages 67-69.
Note: This text has some unusual spelling (jezt instead of jetzt) that was common in southwest Germany in the 19th century.
1 von Goethe: "denn"2 von Goethe: "So wird es doch"
3 von Goethe: "Nun ist es"
4 von Goethe: "daran"
Text Authorship:
- by Karl August Friedrich Fetzer (1809 - 1885), as Berthold Staufer, "Unmuth" [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Portuguese (Português) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Walter von Goethe (1817 - 1885), "Unmuth", op. 14 (Sechs Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, stanzas 1,2,5,6 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Haslinger [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Discontent", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2021-04-05
Line count: 48
Word count: 227
Upon the streets I wish to throw My bleeding heart. The birds may have it; I shall view them with equanimity, The crows and the ravens, [And] shall still force myself to jest. Upon the streets I wish to throw My bleeding heart. Thus it shall nevertheless be torn apart By my will. Be it then be separated into Vain trumpery with my consent, When it shatters into splinters It shall yet retain some semblance of itself. [But it shall then be]1 torn Apart with my will. Must it not rue me now, The long, rigorous care? Why save so anxiously, When others are able to be happy? Why cherish my heart Like a treasure entrusted to me? Must it not rue me now, The caution and the care? In order now to squander it Upon her, who never comprehends it, Who, causing me a thousand pains, With clumsy hands Now reaches for my heart as well As if it were any other play-thing[,] Must I then thus squander my heart After it has come to maturity? Through my heart, hitherto whole, A crack has already opened. [It is now] bewitched already, No longer in its original radiance, Therefore, it might as well be utterly destroyed Now; what does it [matter anymore]3? Through my heart, hitherto whole, A crack has already opened. Yes! Upon the streets I wish to throw My bleeding heart. The birds may have it. When my soul has departed, You may bury my body. What do you care about my pain? Upon the streets I wish to throw My bleeding heart.
1 von Goethe: "So it is nevertheless"
2 von Goethe: "Now it is"
3 von Goethe: "matter"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Karl August Friedrich Fetzer (1809 - 1885), as Berthold Staufer, "Unmuth"
Based on:
- a text in Portuguese (Português) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2025-11-23
Line count: 48
Word count: 267