by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Neue Liebe, neues Leben
 (Sung text for setting by J. von Dalberg)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Herz, mein Herz, was soll das geben?
Was bedrängt dich doch so sehr?
Welch ein fremdes neues Leben!
Ich erkenne dich nicht mehr.
Weg ist Alles, was du liebtest,
Weg warum du dich betrübtest,
Weg dein Fleiß und deine Ruh' -
Ach wie kamst du nur dazu!

Fesselt dich die Jugendblüte,
Diese liebliche Gestalt,
Dieser Blick voll Treu' und Güte,
Mit unendlicher Gewalt?
Will ich rasch mich ihr entziehen,
Mich ermannen, ihr entfliehen,
Führet mich im Augenblick
Ach mein Weg zu ihr zurück.

Und an diesem Zauberfädchen,
Das sich nicht zerreißen läßt,
Hält das liebe lose Mädchen,
Mich so wider Willen fest;
Muß in ihrem Zauberkreise
Leben nun auf ihre Weise.
Die Verändrung ach wie groß!
Liebe! Liebe! laß mich los!

Note: The poem was first published 1775 in Iris. Zweyter Band. Drittes Stück, where an earlier version of the poem Willkommen und Abschied is appended as stanzas 4-7.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nieuwe liefde, nieuw leven", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "New love, new life", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Nouvel amour, nouvelle vie", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Nuovo amore, nuova vita", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 120

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 Heart, my heart, what does this mean?
 What is besieging you so? 
 What a strange new life!
 I do not know you any longer.
 Gone is all that you loved,
 gone is what troubled you,
 gone is your industry and peace,
 alas! how did you come to this?
 
 Does youthful bloom shackle you,
 this lovely figure
 whose gaze is full of fidelity and goodness,
 with endless power?
 If I rush to escape her,
 to take heart and flee her,
 I am led in a moment,
 alas, back to her.
 
 And with this magic thread
 that cannot be ripped,
 the dear, mischievous maiden
 holds me fast against my will;
 in her magic circle I must
 live now in her way.
 The change, alas - how great!
 Love, Love, let me free!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 130