O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
O Freund, mein Schmuck, mein Putz!
Mein Stolz, mein Trost, mein Trutz!
Mein Bollwerk, o mein Schild!
Wo's einen Kampf mir gilt,
Flücht ich mich zu deinem Bild.
Wenn mich in Jammerschlucht
Die Welt zu drängen sucht,
Nehm' ich zu dir die Flucht.
Ob sie mir Bitt'res bot,
Mit Bittrerem mir droht,
So klag' ich dir die Not.
Du schickest ohn ein Wort
Des Trostes mich nicht fort,
Du bist und bleibst mein Hort.
Der Erde Weh ist Scherz,
Hier leg ich an dein Herz
Mich selbst und meinen Schmerz.
O Welt, was du mir tust,
Ich ruh in stiller Lust
An meines Freundes Brust!
Composition:
Set to music by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Lied", op. 101 no. 6 (1849), published 1852 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Minnespiel, no. 6, Leipzig, Whistling
Text Authorship:
Go to the general single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Lied 'O vriend!'", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Harald Krebs) , "Song", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Margo Briessinck
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 111
Oh friend, my screen, my shelter!
Oh friend, my ornament, my adornment!
My pride, my comfort, my weapon!
My bulwark, oh, my shield!
Wherever I must fight
I take refuge in your image.
When into the abyss of sorrow
The world seeks to force me,
I fly to you.
If the world offers me bitterness
Or threatens me with even greater bitterness,
I complain to you of my pain.
You do not send me away
Without a word of comfort.
You are and you remain my safe retreat.
The earth's woe is a jest,
Here I lay upon your heart
Myself and my pain.
Oh world, whatever you may do to me,
I rest in quiet joy
On my friend's breast!
