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Leis' rudern hier, mein Gondolier! Die Flut vom Ruder sprühn so leise laß, daß sie uns nur vernimmt, zu der wir zieh'n! O könnte, wie er schauen kann, der Himmel reden -- traun, Er spräche vieles wohl von dem, was Nachts die Sterne schau'n! Nun rasten hier, mein Gondolier! Ins Boot die Ruder! sacht! Auf zum Balkone schwing' ich mich, doch du hältst unten Wacht, O, wollten halb so eifrig nur dem Himmel wir uns weih'n, Als schöner Weiber Dienste -- trau'n, wir könnten Engel sein!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesNote: in Freiligrath's published form, this is a poem of two stanzas with four lines each.
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Row gently here" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Row gently here", subtitle: "Venetian air", appears in National Airs, first published 1822
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Venetianisches Gondellied", op. 21 (Acht Gesänge) no. 8, published 1861 [ voice and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Henkel [sung text not yet checked]
- by C. Hruby , "Gondellied", op. 7 (Zwei venezianische Lieder von Thomas Moore), published 1891 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Leis rudern hier, mein Gondolier", op. 50 no. 4, published 1876 [ voice and piano ], from Sieben Lieder von Thomas Moore, no. 4, Breslau, Hainauer [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bruno Ramann (1832 - 1897), "Gondellied", op. 18 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Piano) no. 3, published 1871 [ voice and piano ], Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Venetianisches Lied I", op. 25 no. 17 (1840), published 1840 [ voice and piano ], from Myrten, no. 17, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alexander Winterberger (1834 - 1914), "Gondelfahrer", op. 10 (20 Gesänge) no. 18, published 1862 [ soprano or tenor and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Marta Garcia Cadena) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Venetiaans lied I: Zacht roeien hier", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant vénitien I", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 19
Word count: 84
Row softly here, My gondolier! Let the flood spray from the oar so quietly That only she perceives us -- She, to whom we travel! Oh if Heaven could speak As it can see -- truly, It would speak much of that Which the stars see at night! Now rest here, My gondolier! Take the oars into the boat! Gently! Up to the balcony I swing myself, But you keep watch down below, Oh, if only half as assiduously We would dedicate ourselves to Heaven, As we do to the service of beautiful women -- truly, We could be angels!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesTranslated titles:
"Venetianisches Gondellied" = "Venetian gondola-song"
"Gondellied" = "Gondola-song"
"Leis rudern hier, mein Gondolier" = "Row quietly here, my gondolier"
"Venetianisches Lied I" = "Venetian song I"
"Gondelfahrer" = "Gondolier"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Row gently here"
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Row gently here", subtitle: "Venetian air", appears in National Airs, first published 1822
This text was added to the website: 2016-02-01
Line count: 19
Word count: 98