Du hast ja lang dein Herz vorausgesendet
Language: German (Deutsch)
Du hast ja lang dein Herz vorausgesendet
Und seiner ew'gen Heimat zugewendet,--
Und doch empfandest du ein leises Grauen:
"O furchtbar muß es sein, den Tod zu schauen!"
Da ist der ernste Bote leis gekommen;
Wie träumend hat der Herr dich hingenommen,
Und stille dich gelegt zu sanfter Ruh.--
Gut' Nacht, gut' Nacht, geliebte Mutter, du!
Und ist's vorbei mit unserm Glück und Lieben?
So tief verhüllt ist's über'm Grabe drüben.
Nur Eine Stimme ruft mir tröstend zu:
Für Gottes Volk bereit ist eine Ruh.
Sie werden bei dem Herrn sein allezeit,
Nicht Leid, nicht Thränen mehr in Ewigkeit;
So schließ' getrost die treuen Augen zu,
Gut' Nacht, gut' Nacht, o liebe Mutter du!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• J. Lang J. Lang sets stanzas 1-2, 3 (lines 1, 3-4), 4
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Confirmed with Mein Liederbuch. Gedichte von Ottilie Wildermuth, herausgegeben von ihrer Tochter Agnes Willms, Stuttgart: Verlag der Gebrüder Kröner, 1877, page 178.
Note (provided by Sharon Krebs): Ottilie Wildermuth's poems were not published until after her death. Josephine Lang knew her personally and obtained the texts of her songs directly from the poet. Therefore the changes noted below in the footnotes might not be Lang's, but rather earlier versions by Wildermuth herself.
Note for stanza 3, line 1, word 8 ("Lieben") : in one of Lang's manuscripts, this appears erroneously as "Liebe".
Text Authorship:
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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2017-01-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 126
You have long sent your heart on ahead
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
You have long sent your heart on ahead,
And turned it toward its eternal home,--
And yet, you felt a quiet dread:
"Oh, it must be terrible to meet death!"
Then the solemn messenger quietly came;
As in a dream, the Lord has taken you hence,
And silently laid you to your gentle rest. --
Good night, good night, you beloved mother!
And is it over with our happiness and loving?
So deeply shrouded is it yonder o'er the grave.
Only a single voice speaks comfortingly to me:
There remaineth a rest to the people of God.
They shall be with the Lord for all time,
No suffering, no more tears in eternity;
So close your faithful eyes confidently,
Good night, good night, oh dear mother!
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Translation of title "Der lieben Mutter zur guten Nacht!" = "To my dear mother as a good night!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
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Based on:
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This text was added to the website: 2017-01-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 135
