Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Ich blick' in mein Herz und ich blick' in die Welt, Bis vom Auge die brennende Thräne mir fällt, Wohl leuchtet die Ferne mit goldenem Licht, Doch hält mich der Nord -- ich erreiche sie nicht -- O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit, Und so flüchtig die Zeit! Ich weiß ein Land, wo aus sonnigem Grün Um versunkene Tempel die Trauben glühn, Wo die purpurne Woge das Ufer beschäumt, Und von kommenden Sängern der Lorbeer träumt; Fern lockt es und winkt dem verlangenden Sinn, Und ich kann nicht hin. Und hätt' ich Flügel, durch's Blau der Luft Wie wollt' ich baden im Sonnenduft! Doch umsonst! Und Stunde auf Stunde entflieht -- Vertraure die Jugend -- begrabe das Lied -- O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit, Und so flüchtig die Zeit!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• M. Schnorr von Carolsfeld • R. Schumann • L. Spohr • A. WalterAbout the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Neununddreißigste Auflage, Berlin, Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1855, page 26. Note: modern German spelling would change "Thräne" to "Träne"
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Sehnsucht" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Go to the general view
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 142
I look in my heart and I look at the world Till out of my burning eyes a tear falls. Though the distance glows with golden light, The north wind tells me I shall not reach it. Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world, And how fleeting is time! I know a land where in sun-filled greenery Grapes gleam among sunken temples, Where the purple wave covers the shore with foam And laurels dream of singers to come. It lures from afar and beckons my longing soul, And I cannot go there! If I had wings to fly through the blue How I would wish to bathe in sun's fragrance! But in vain! Hour flees upon hour; Pass your youth in mourning, bury your song. Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world And how fleeting is time!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2002 by Allen Shearer, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Sehnsucht"
Go to the general view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 142