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Könnt' ich dich in Liedern preisen,
Säng' ich dir das längste Lied.
Ja, ich würd' in allen Weisen
Dich zu singen nimmer müd'!
Doch was immer mich betrübte,
Ist, daß ich nur immer stumm
Tragen kann dich, Herzgeliebte,
In des Busens Heiligtum.
...
Dieser Schmerz hat mich bezwungen,
Daß ich sang dies kleine Lied,
Doch von bitterm Leid durchdrungen,
Daß noch keins auf dich geriet.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Stille Liebe", op. 35 no. 8 (1840), published 1841, stanzas 1-2,4 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Gedichte von Justinus Kerner, no. 8, Leipzig, Klemm
Score: IMSLP [external link]
Text Authorship:
- by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Stille Liebe", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Amor silenciós", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Stille liefde", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Silent love", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Amour silencieux", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Amore silenzioso", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 87
If I could praise you in song,
I would sing you the longest song.
Yes, I would in every way
never tire of singing to you!
But what has always troubled me
is that always, only silently,
may I carry you, my heart's beloved,
in my heart's sanctuary.
...
This agony has compelled me
to sing this little song,
but I am pierced by bitter sorrow
that you haven't heard even one note.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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 Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Stille Liebe", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97