Weary unto death | LiederNet

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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Das letzte Blatt

(Sung text for setting by H. Schletterer)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

  Sterbensmatt 
Harrt am Baum das letzte Blatt; 
Mitleidsvoll der Andern Lust und Weh 
Decket längst der tiefe, tiefe Schnee.  

  Voller Pein 
Blieb zurück es ganz allein; 
Und es seufzt:  O könnt' auch ich doch ruhn, 
Ach, was soll ich einsam hier noch thun!  

 ... 

  Todeshauch!   
Komm, gedenke meiner auch! 
Lebe wohl, du holdes Frühlingswehn,   
Mag ein neu Geschlecht den Lenz denn sehn!  

  Und vom Baum 
Sinkt das Blatt als wie im Traum, 
Leise wie ein letzter Odemzug,  --  
Bald verweht's der Sturm in wildem Flug.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-5 of the original text.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874, mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 140.

Composition:

Hans Michael Schletterer

Praktischer Unterricht im Chorgesange

Schul-Lieder-Anhang

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das letzte Blatt", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 160

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2017-05-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 105

The last leaf

(Sung text translation for setting by H. Schletterer)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

  Weary unto death
The last leaf abides upon the tree;
The joy and sorrow of the others has long
Been compassionately covered by the deep, deep snow.

  Full of torment
It has stayed behind all alone;
And it sighs:  Oh could I only rest too,
Ah, what shall I do here yet in solitude!

 ... 

  Breath of death!
Come, remember me as well!
Farewell, you lovely spring breezes,
May a new generation see spring then!

  And from the tree
The leaf sinks as if in a dream,
Quietly like a final breath, --
Soon the storm blows it away in wild flight.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-5 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das letzte Blatt", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 160
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This text was added to the website: 2017-07-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 129