So willst du von mir scheiden,
  Mein herzgeliebter Knab',
Soll Alles Dich begleiten,
  Was ich von Freuden hab'.
Mir bleibt, wenn du geschieden,
  Mein traurig Herz allein;
Fahr' hin, mein Lieb, in Frieden!
  Mein Engel hüte dein!

Ihm ward zur Hut gegeben
  Mein Glück und meine Ruh';
Ach, Glück und Ruh' und Leben,
  Herzlieb, das bist ja du!
Und bist mir du geschieden,
  Flieht auch der Engel mein;
Fahr' hin, mein Lieb, in Frieden!
  Mein Engel hüte dein!

O daß er dir verschwiege,
  Was dich betrüben mag,
Wie ich verlassen liege
  In Sehnsucht Nacht und Tag!
Mein Bild soll mit dir gehen
  Im alten Freudenschein;
Fahr' hin, auf Wiedersehen!
  Mein Engel hüte dein!

Note: the poem is preceded by the following:
Daz iuwer min engel walte!
Alter Gruß.

Composition:

Set to music by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Mein Engel hüte dein", op. 55 no. 4 (1864), published 1871 [ soprano and piano ], from Liebesleben. Ein Cyclus von 8 Liedern, no. 4, Leipzig, Forberg

Text Authorship:

• by Wilhelm Ritter von Hertz, Dr. (1835 - 1902), "Mein Engel hüte dein", appears in Gedichte, in Lyrisches , first published 1859

See other settings of this text.

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

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English [singable] (Florence Z. Marshall) , "Good angels watch o'er thee"
• ENG English [singable] (Edward Oxenford) , "My angel shall guard you!"
• ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Et si tu veux te séparer de moi", copyright © 2012, (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: 123

So you wish to part from me,
  My dearly beloved lad,
Everything is to accompany you,
  Everything that I have of joys.
To me remains, when you have gone,
  My sad heart alone;
Farewell, my love, in peace!
  May my angel watch over you!

Into my angel's protection was given
  My happiness and my peace;
Ah, happiness and peace and life,
  Beloved, that is you!
And if you have parted from me,
  My angel also departs;
Farewell, my love, in peace!
  May my angel watch over you!

Oh may my angel keep from you
  Whatever may make you sad,
How, forsaken, I lie
  In yearning night and day!
My image shall accompany you
  In the old happy radiance;
Farewell, good-bye!
  May my angel watch over you!