Let the dead rest | An old rock wall looms

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Laß ruh'n die Toten

(Sung text for setting by R. Strauss)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE

Es steht ein altes Gemäuer
Hervor aus Waldesnacht,
Wohl standen Klöster und Burgen
Einst dort in herrlicher Pracht.
 
Es liegen im kühlen Grunde
Behauene Steine gereiht;
Dort schlummern die Frauen, die Starken,
Die Mächt'gen der alten Zeit.
 
Was kommst du  ...  nächtlicher Weile
Durchwühlen das alte Gestein?
Und fordest hervor aus den Gräbern --
Nur Staub und Totengebein.
 
Unmächtger Sohn der Stunde,
Das ist der Zeiten Lauf,
Laß ruhn, laß ruhn die Toten,
Du weckst sie mit Klagen nicht auf.

Composition:

Richard Georg Strauss

Jugendlieder

Text Authorship:

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Laß ruhn die Toten", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Deixeu reposar els morts", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Let the dead rest", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Laisse reposer les morts", copyright © 2008, (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: 16
Word count: 84

Let the dead rest

(Sung text translation for setting by R. Strauss)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

An old rock wall stands
Out of the night of the forest;
Once cloisters and castles must have
Stood there in glorious splendour.
 
In the cool depths there lie
Rows of hewn stones;
The women slumber there, the strong,
The powerful of olden times.
 
Why do you come in the night-time
To rummage through the old rocks?
And summon forth from the graves --
Only dust and skeletons.
 
You powerless son of the hour,
That is the march of time,
Let rest, let rest the dead,
You cannot waken them with laments.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Laß ruhn die Toten", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte
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This text was added to the website: 2016-07-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 94