by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Bin durch die Alpen gezogen
 (Sung text for setting by B. Seiffert)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Bin durch die Alpen gezogen, 
Wo die Lawine rollt, 
Sah, wie in Meereswogen 
Tauchte der Sonne Gold. 
Aber freudig ich tauschte 
Alpen und Meeresstrand 
Für das Tannen-durchrauschte 
Nordische Heimatland.

Schlösser sah ich und Thürme, 
Schimmernd und marmorweiss;
Dunkeler Pinien Schirme 
Wiegten im Wind sich leis, 
Aber schöner und besser --
Lacht mich immerhin aus -- 
Als die Marmorschlösser 
Dünkt mich mein Vaterhaus.

Mägdlein durfte ich kosen, 
Schlank und liliengleich, 
Frauen wie volle Rosen, 
Üppig und anmuthreich; 
Lilien aber und Rosen
Werden von der besiegt,
Die mich als Knaben mit Kosen
In den Schlaf gewiegt.

Composition:

    Set to music by Bernhard Seiffert , "Bin durch die Alpen gezogen", 1895 [ voice and piano ]

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2012-12-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 96

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I travelled through the Alps
Where the avalanches roll;
I saw how the gold of the sun
Descended into the ocean waves.
But gladly would I exchange
The Alps and ocean shore
For the land suffused with soughing of pines,
My Nordic homeland.

I saw castles and turrets,
Shimmering and marble-white;
Dark pine canopies
Swayed quietly in the wind,
But more beautiful and better --
Laugh at me if you please --
Than the marble castles
Is my parental home.

I exchanged caresses with maidens
Slender and lily-like,
With women like full-blown roses,
Voluptuous and full of charms;
Lilies, however, and roses
Are trumped by her 
Who, when I was lad,
Rocked me to sleep with caresses

Translations of title(s):
"Bin durch die Alpen gezogen" = "I travelled through the Alps"
"Heim" = "Home"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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This text was added to the website: 2020-09-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 120