The oppressive evening | The dark clouds were hanging down

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Der schwere Abend

(Sung text for setting by L. Thuille)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Die dunklen Wolken hingen
Herab so bang und schwer,
Wir beide traurig gingen
Im Garten hin und her.

So heiß und stumm, so trübe
So sternlos war die Nacht,
So ganz, wie unsre Liebe,
Zu Tränen nur gemacht.

Und als ich mußte scheiden
Und gute Nacht ihr bot,
Wünscht' ich bekümmert beiden
Im Herzen uns den Tod.

Composition:

Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille

Text Authorship:

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Der schwere Abend", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Viertes Buch, in Liebesklänge

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De drukkende avond", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The oppressive evening", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Pénible soirée", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

The oppressive evening

(Sung text translation for setting by L. Thuille)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

The dark clouds were hanging down
So forebodingly and heavily.
We two walked sadly to and fro
In the garden.

So hot and silent, so dreary
So starless was the night --
Just like our love,
Created only for tears.

And when I had to depart
And wished you good night,
In my sorrowing heart
I sadly wished death for us both.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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 Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Der schwere Abend", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Viertes Buch, in Liebesklänge
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This text was added to the website: 2008-01-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 63