by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Beim Sonnenuntergang
 (Sung text for setting by K. Reinecke)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
  Fahr' wohl, o goldne Sonne,
Du gehst zu deiner Ruh';
Und voll von deiner Wonne
Gehn mir die Augen zu.

  Schwer sind die Augenlider,
Du nimmst das Lied mir fort.
Fahr' wohl! wir sehn uns wieder
Hier unten oder dort.

  Hier unten, wenn sich wieder
Dies Haupt vom Schlaf erhob;
Dann blickest du hernieder
Und freuest dich darob.

  Und trägt des Tods Gefieder
Mich statt des Traums empor,
So schau' ich selbst hernieder
Zu dir aus höherm Chor.

  Und danke deinem Strahle
Für jeden schönen Tag,
Wo ich mit meinem Thale
In deinem Glanze lag.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Sunset"
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Farewell o golden sun", copyright © 2012
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-11-21
Line count: 20
Word count: 101

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Farewell o golden sun,
You go to your rest;
and sated with your splendour
I shut my eyes.

My eyelids are heavy
now that you've taken your song away with you.
Farewell! We will see each other again
Here below, or up there.

Here below, when I lift again
my head from sleep,
You will look down here then
And be delighted by what you see.

And if, instead of by my dream,
I am carried upward by Death's wings,
then I myself will look down
upon you from a more lofty realm.

And I will thank your refulgence
for every lovely day,
during which, with my valley,
I bask in your brilliance.

1 or: "light" (for "Licht")

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website: 2012-11-16
Line count: 20
Word count: 114