The landscape of exile | But I too, on the last boat

Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).

Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Landschaft des Exils

(Sung text for setting by H. Eisler)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Aber auch ich auf dem letzten Boot
Sah noch den Frohsinn des Frührots im Tackelzeug
Und der Delphine graulichte Leiber tauchen
Aus der chinesischen See.
 ...  die Pferdewäglein mit dem Goldbeschlag
 ...  die rosa Armschleier der Matronen
In den Gassen des gezeichneten Manila
Sah auch der Flüchtling mit Freude.
Und die Öltürme und die duftenden Gärten von Los Angeles
Und die abendlichen Schluchten Kaliforniens  ... 
Ließen den Boten des Unglücks
Nicht kalt.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Composition:

Hanns Eisler

Hollywooder Liederbuch

Text Authorship:

by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956), "Die Landschaft des Exils"

Go to the general single-text view

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The landscape of exile", copyright © 2011, (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: 12
Word count: 78

The landscape of exile

(Sung text translation for setting by H. Eisler)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Add this translation to your Reprint Basket | Add tr by H. Eisler

But I too, on the last boat
Still saw the cheerfulness of the early light of dawn in the tackle,
And saw the dolphins' grey shiny bodies diving up
Out of the Chinese Sea.
 ...  The little horse carts with gold fittings,
 ...  the pink gauzy sleeves of the matrons
In the streets of ill-fated Manila,
Were also perceived with joy by the fugitive.
 And the oil towers and the scented gardens of Los Angeles
And the canyons of California, shaded by evening,  ... 
Did not leave the messenger of doom
Cold.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956), "Die Landschaft des Exils"
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

This text was added to the website: 2012-01-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 100