To sing on the water | Shimmering waters like mirrors abound

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by Friedrich Leopold, Graf zu Stolberg-Stolberg (1750 - 1819)

Translation © by Shula Keller

Auf dem Wasser zu singen

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT DUT ENG ENG FRE FRI ITA POR SPA

Mitten im Schimmer der spiegelnden Wellen
Gleitet, wie Schwäne, der wankende Kahn;
Ach, auf der Freude sanftschimmernden Wellen
Gleitet die Seele dahin wie der Kahn;
Denn von dem Himmel herab auf die Wellen
Tanzet das Abendroth rund um den Kahn.

Ueber den Wipfeln des westlichen Haines
Winket uns freundlich der röthliche Schein;
Unter den Zweigen des östlichen Haines
Säuselt der Kalmus im röthlichen Schein;
Freude des Himmels und Ruhe des Haines
Athmet die Seel' im erröthenden Schein.

Ach, es entschwindet mit thauigem Flügel
Mir auf den wiegenden Wellen die Zeit.
Morgen entschwindet mit schimmerndem Flügel
Wieder wie gestern und heute die Zeit,
Bis ich auf höherem strahlenden Flügel
Selber entschwinde der wechselnden Zeit.

Composition:

Franz Peter Schubert

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Leopold, Graf zu Stolberg-Stolberg (1750 - 1819), "Lied auf dem Wasser zu singen", subtitle: "Für meine Agnes", written 1782, first published 1783

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Op het water te zingen", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Geart van der Meer) , "Op het water te zingen", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Lynn Thompson) , "In the middle of the shimmer of the reflecting waves", copyright © 1997, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English [singable] (Shula Keller) , "To sing on the water", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRI Frisian (Geart van der Meer) , "Op it wetter te sjongen", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Da cantare sull'acqua", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
POR Portuguese (Português) (Paulo Albuquerque de Noronha) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 115

To sing on the water

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Shimmering waters like mirrors abound;
Swan-like a-gliding, a boat rocking round.
Sunlight's reflections sparkle and glow;  
So does the soul fly joyful above. 
Heaven descends now onto the water; 
(Oh,) Radiant twilight dancing in bliss.
 
Fluttering, flowing in dewy light air;  
Over the water as time draws me on,
Tomorrow again on silvery wings; 
Gleaming in shadow I vanish and fly.
Then will I rise on waves soft rolling;
(Oh,) Time and my soul again soaring and free.

Text Authorship:

Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Shula Keller, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Leopold, Graf zu Stolberg-Stolberg (1750 - 1819), "Lied auf dem Wasser zu singen", subtitle: "Für meine Agnes", written 1782, first published 1783
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This text was added to the website: 2008-03-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 78