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Gedenkst du mein, wenn du mit reinen Blicken
Hinausstrebst in die dunkle Nacht?
Ich denke dein; und, kann mich was erquicken,
So ist's nur, weil ich Dein gedacht.
Gedenkst du mein, wenn dir die Thränen kommen?
Mein Leben ist ein stilles Ach;
Die Freude draus ward mir mit dir genommen,
Und nur der Schmerz ist ewig wach.
...
Gedenkst du mein? Du hast es mir versprochen,
Und darum ja lebt' ich bisher fort, --
Getrost. Denn, hättest du dein Wort gebrochen,
Wär' mehr gebrochen, als ein Wort.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,5 of the original text.
Confirmed with: Christian Reinhold Köstlin’s poetry manuscripts, Z 2704, [129.], Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach, Germany (unpublished poem, dated December 12/13, [1840]).
Note for Lang's setting: when the last line is repeated, the word "mehr" becomes first "mehr wohl" and in the next repetition, "ja mehr wohl"
Composition:
- Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Gedenkst du mein", op. 10 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1841), published 1841, stanzas 1-2,5 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), no title, written [1840]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Do you think of me", copyright © 2006, (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: 2006-11-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 168
Do you think of me when, with pure gaze,
You strive out into the dark night?
I think of you; and if anything can refresh me,
It is only because I thought of you.
Do you think of me when the tears come?
My life is a quiet sigh;
Happiness was taken from me when you were taken from me,
And only pain is eternally vigilant.
...
Do you think of me? You promised to,
And that is why of course I have been able to continue living until now, --
Secure. For if you had broken your word,
More would have been broken than just a promise.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,5 of the original text.
Note for Lang's setting: when the last line is repeated and becmes first "mehr wohl" and then "ja mehr wohl", these can be translated as "more well" and "yes more well".
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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), no title, written [1840]
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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 210