The old fir tree | Solitary in the depths of the forest

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by Franz Alfred Muth (1839 - 1890)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die alte Tanne

(Sung text for setting by J. Rheinberger)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: DUT ENG

  Einsam im Waldesgrund
Düster sie steht.
Ob auch des Sommers Luft,
Ob wilder Blumen Duft
Mild sie umweht;
Düster sie steht.

  Einsam im Waldesgrund
Düster sie steht.
Vögel umschwärmen sie,
Kinder umlärmen sie;
Wie im Gebet
Düster sie steht.

  Einsam im lichten Grund
Düster sie steht:
Lärmet und schwärmet nur,
Klaget und härmet nur;
Ich werd' als Truh'
Doch eure Ruh, werd eure Ruh

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Composition:

Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger

Text Authorship:

by Franz Alfred Muth (1839 - 1890), "Die alte Tanne", appears in Waldblumen, in 1. Naturstimmen [3rd edition]

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

DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The old fir tree", copyright © 2020, (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: 2019-08-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 84

The old fir tree

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Rheinberger)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

  Solitary in the depths of the forest
It stands sombrely.
Though the summer breeze,
Though the scent of wildflowers
Waft gently about it;
It stands sombrely.

  Solitary in the depths of the forest
It stands sombrely.
Birds swarm about it,
Children surround it with noise;
As if in prayer
It stands sombrely.

  Solitary in the bright ground 
It stands sombrely:
Only make noise and swarm,
Only lament and grieve;
As a coffin I shall nevertheless
Become your resting place, become your resting place..

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Franz Alfred Muth (1839 - 1890), "Die alte Tanne", appears in Waldblumen, in 1. Naturstimmen [3rd edition]
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

This text was added to the website: 2020-10-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 107