by
Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
Nachtgedanken
See originalLanguage: German (Deutsch)
Es rauben Gedanken
Den Schlaf mir, o Mutter,
Kommen und wecken mich,
Kommen und gehen!
Trauergedanken
Von Freudentagen;
Aufdämmern die Plagen,
Die Freuden versanken.
Die Träume jagen
Vorüber, o Mutter,
Kommen und wecken mich,
Kommen und gehen.
Es wird mein Bette
Dem Kampf zur Wiege,
Dem bösen Kriege
Zur friedlosen Stätte,
Von Schatten ich liege
Beängstigt, o Mutter,
Kommen und wecken mich,
Kommen und gehen!
Stets mir im Blicke
Die Thränen beben,
Weinen mein Streben
Nach falschem Glücke.
Bald sterben, bald leben
Meine Qualen, o Mutter,
Kommen und wecken mich,
Kommen und gehen!
O Traum der Lust,
Nach dessen Scheiden
Erwacht das Leiden
Der wunden Brust!
Ins Leben schneiden
Die Qualen, o Mutter,
Kommen und wecken mich,
Kommen und gehen!
Composition:
Set to music by Ethel Mary Smyth, Dame (1858 - 1944), "Nachtgedanken", op. 4 no. 5, published 1886 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Peters
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2009-02-27
Line count: 36
Word count: 130
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Thoughts rob me
Of sleep, oh mother,
They come and wake me,
Come and go!
Sorrowful thoughts
Of joyful days;
Afflictions arise,
Joys sank away.
Dreams hurtle
Past, oh mother,
They come and wake me,
Come and go!
My bed becomes
A cradle for strife,
For the evil war it becomes
A place without peace.
I lie there made anxious
By shadows, oh mother,
They come and wake me,
Come and go!
Ever in my gaze
Tears tremble,
They weep for my striving
After false happiness.
My agonies, oh mother,
Now die, now live,
They come and wake me,
Come and go!
Oh dream of happiness,
After its parting
The suffering of
My wounded bosom awakens!
The agonies cut into
Life, oh mother,
They come and wake me,
Come and go!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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:
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2021-11-15
Line count: 36
Word count: 133
