I look in my heart and I look at the world | I look in my heart and I look at the world

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by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)

Translation © by Allen Shearer

Sehnsucht

(Sung text for setting by R. Schumann)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA POR

Ich blick' in mein Herz und ich blick' in die Welt,
Bis von schwimmenden Auge die Thräne mir fällt,
Wohl leuchtet die Ferne mit goldenem Licht,
Doch hält mich der Nord -- ich erreiche sie nicht --
O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit,
Und so flüchtig die Zeit!

Ich weiß ein Land, wo aus sonnigem Grün
Um versunkene Tempel die Trauben glühn,
Wo die purpurne Woge das Ufer beschäumt,
Und von kommenden Sängern der Lorbeer träumt;
Fern lockt es und winkt dem verlangenden Sinn,
Und ich kann nicht hin.

O hätt' ich Flügel, durch's Blau der Luft
Wie wollt' ich baden im Sonnenduft!
Doch umsonst! Und Stunde auf Stunde entflieht --
Vertraure die Jugend -- begrabe das Lied --
O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit,
Und so flüchtig die Zeit!

Composition:

Robert Schumann

Text Authorship:

by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Sehnsucht"

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Nostàlgia", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Hunkering", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Allen Shearer) , "I look in my heart and I look at the world", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Nostalgie", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Nostalgia", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
POR Portuguese (Português) (Elke Beatriz Riedel) , "Saudade", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 142

I look in my heart and I look at the world

(Sung text translation for setting by R. Schumann)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

I look in my heart and I look at the world
Till out of my clouded eyes a tear falls.
Though the distance glows with golden light,
The north wind tells me I shall not reach it.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world, 
And how fleeting is time!

I know a land where in sun-filled greenery
Grapes gleam among sunken temples,
Where the purple wave covers the shore with foam
And laurels dream of singers to come.
It lures from afar and beckons my longing soul,
And I cannot go there!

If I had wings to fly through the blue
How I would wish to bathe in sun's fragrance!
But in vain! Hour flees upon hour;
Pass your youth in mourning, bury your song.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world
And how fleeting is time!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2002 by Allen Shearer, (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 Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Sehnsucht"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 142