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Ach Gott, wie weh thut Scheiden!
Hat mir mein Herz verwundt;
So trab' ich über d' Heiden
Und trauer zu aller Stund,
Der Stunden der sind allsoviel,
Mein Herz trägt heimlich's Leiden,
Wiewol ich oft fröhlich bin.
...
Das Blümlein das ich meine,
Das ist von edler Art,
Ist aller Tugend reine,
Ihr Mündlein das ist zart,
Ihr' Äuglein die sind hübsch und fein,
Wenn ich an sie gedenke,
So wollt' ich gern bei ihr sein!
Mich dünkt in all mein Sinnen
Und wenn ich bei ihr bin,
Sie sei ein Kaiserinne
Kein lieber ich nie gewinn;
Hat mir mein junges Herz erfreut
Wenn ich an sie gedenke,
Verschwunden ist all mein Leid.
Sollt mich meins Buhln erwehren
Als oft ein Ander thut,
Sollt führ'n ein fröhlich's Leben,
Dazu ein'n leichten Mut?
Das kann und mag doch nicht gesein;
Gesegn' dich Gott im Herzen!
Es muß geschieden sein.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.
Note: modern German would change the following spellings "thut" -> "tut", "Wiewol" -> "Wiewohl", etc.
Note provided by Johann Winkler for von Sahr's setting, which uses the word "erwegen" in stanza 4 line 1 (see below): Grimm dedicates more than 4 columns to this word. It has two different meanings: 1st: to make a decision, 2nd: to forego something. It seems likely the text means the 2nd alternative: "Should I forego my beloved ... in order to lead a merry (because unbound) life? ... No, that must not be." The word "erwehren", found in at least three scores (Brahms Eben, Keller), doesn't make any sense and was probably written by someone who didn't understand the word "erwegen", which flourished -- according to Grimm -- in the 16th century and disappeared in the 18th.
Composition:
- Set to music by Ludwig Keller (1847 - 1930), "Ach Gott, wie weh tut scheiden", stanzas 1,3-4, from Zwei altdeutsche Volkslieder, no. 1
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Ach Gott, wie weh thut Scheiden!"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 161
Ah God, how painful is parting,
It has wounded my heart,
Therefore, I wander across the moors
And lament at all hours.
For far too many hours,
My heart secretly bears sorrows,
Though I often appear happy.
...
The little flower that I refer to
Is a noble one
Having the purest virtue,
Her tiny mouth is so tender,
Her little eyes are handsome and fine.
When I think about her,
How much I would love to be with her!
I believe with all my being
That when I am near her
She is an empress,
A dearer one I have never known.
She makes my young heart rejoice
When I think about her
All of my sorrow disappears.
If my love should resist me
As others often have,
Should I pursue a carefree life
Affecting a lighthearted attitude?
That cannot and must not be,
God bless your heart,
We must be parted.
About the headline (FAQ)
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Ach Gott, wie weh thut Scheiden!"
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This text was added to the website: 2022-08-26
Line count: 28
Word count: 150