What is it, Father, than I have done wrong?

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)

Translation © by Rufus Hallmark

Was ist's, o Vater, was ich verbrach?

(Sung text for setting by R. von Hornstein)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Was ist's, o Vater, was ich verbrach?
Du brichst mir das Herz und fragst nicht darnach.

Ich hab ihm entsagt nach deinem Befehl,
Doch nicht ihn vergessen, ich hab es nicht Hehl.

Noch lebt er in mir, ich selber bin tot,
Und über mich schaltet dein strenges Gebot.

Wenn Herz und Wille gebrochen sind
Bittet um eins noch dein armes Kind.

Wenn bald mein müdes Auge sich schließt,
Und Tränen vielleicht das deine vergeißt;

An der Kirchwand dort, beim Hollunderstrauch,
Wo die Mutter liegt, da lege mich auch.

Composition:

Robert von Hornstein

Thränen. Ein Lieder-Cyklus von Adelbert von Chamisso

Text Authorship:

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), no title, appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Tränen, no. 1

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Rufus Hallmark) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English [singable] (Lewis Novra)
ENG English [singable] (Virginia Woods)
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Donderwinkel , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 93

What is it, Father, than I have done...

(Sung text translation for setting by R. von Hornstein)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

What is it, Father, than I have done wrong?
You're breaking my heart and don't care about it.
 
I have renounced him, according to your order,
But have not forgotten him, I make no secret of that.
 
He lives in me still, I myself am dead,
And your strict command holds sway over me.
 
Now that heart and will are broken,
Your poor child asks just one more thing.
 
When my weary eye soon closes,
And tears perhaps flow from yours;
 
Beside the church wall there, by the elder bush,
Where mother lies, there lay me, too.

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: Translation written with assistance from Harald Krebs.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Rufus Hallmark, (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), no title, appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Tränen, no. 1
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This text was added to the website: 2011-02-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 97