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Das ist im Leben häßlich eingerichtet, Daß bei den Rosen gleich die Dornen steh'n, Und was das arme Herz auch sehnt und dichtet, Zum Schlusse kommt das Voneinandergeh'n. In deinen Augen hab' ich einst gelesen, Es blitzte drin von Lieb' und Glück ein Schein: Behüet dich Gott! es wär' zu schön gewesen, Behüet dich Gott, es hat nicht sollen sein! -- Leid, Neid und Haß, auch ich hab' sie empfunden, Ein sturmgeprüfter müder Wandersmann. Ich träumt' von Frieden dann und stillen Stunden, Da führte mich der Weg zu dir hinan. In deinen Armen wollt' ich ganz genesen, Zum Danke dir mein junges Leben weih'n: Behüet dich Gott! Es wär' zu schön gewesen! Behüet dich Gott, es hat nicht sollen sein! -- Die Wolken flieh'n, der Wind saust durch die Blätter, Ein Regenschauer zieht durch Wald und Feld, Zum Abschiednehmen just das rechte Wetter, Grau wie der Himmel steht vor mir die Welt. Doch wend' es sich zum Guten oder Bösen, Du schlanke Maid, in Treuen denk' ich dein! Behüet dich Gott, es wär zu schön gewesen, Behüet dich Gott, es hat nicht sollen sein! --
Note to the last two lines of each stanza: Most settings use the more common spelling of the word "Behüt."
Composition:
- Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied des jungen Werner (Es hat nicht sollen sein)", op. 45 no. 1 (1870), published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Weimar: T.F.A. Kühn
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886), no title, appears in Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, in Vierzehntes Stück. Das Büchlein der Lieder, in 1. Lieder jung Werners, no. 12
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song of Young Werner (It was not to be)", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Virginia Woods) , "Young Werner"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , from Il trombettiere di Säckingen, copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 189
It is poorly arranged in life That with the roses one immediately finds thorns. And whatever a poor heart desires and dreams - In the end comes parting. I once read in your eyes; A light of love and joy glinted in them. May God protect you! It would have been too beautiful! May God protect you! It was not to be! Pain, envy and hatred, I too have felt them, I, a storm-tried, tired wanderer. I dreamed of peace then and of quiet hours; Then my pathway led me up to you. In your arms I wanted to recover completely, In thanks I wanted to dedicate my young life to you! May God protect you! It would have been too beautiful! May God protect you! It was not to be! The clouds scud, the wind rushes loudly through the leaves, A shower of rain passes over forest and field: Just the right sort of weather for taking farewell, The world stands before me, as grey as the sky. But no matter how my life turns out, whether good or bad, You slender maiden, I shall think of you in faithfulness. May God protect you! It would have been too beautiful! May God protect you! It was not to be!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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 Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886), no title, appears in Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, in Vierzehntes Stück. Das Büchlein der Lieder, in 1. Lieder jung Werners, no. 12
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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 215