by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Weit, weit aus ferner Zeit
 (Sung text for setting by M. Bruch)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Weit, weit aus ferner Zeit,
Aus grüner Jugendwildniß
Grüßt mich in Lust und Leid
Ein wundersames Bildniß.
  Wohl kenn' ich gut
  Der Lippe Glut,
  Die mit mir pflag zu kosen,
  Das Auge so hold,
  Der Locken Gold
  Der Wange bleiche Rosen.
Denn ob in Kampf und Schmerz
Kein Hauch der Jugend bliebe:
Nie doch vergißt das Herz
Den Traum der ersten Liebe.

 ... 

Still, still blickt's mich an durch Thränen,
Will seine Locken lind
An meine Schulter lehnen.
  Es winkt so lieb,
  Es singt so trüb
  Von Zeiten, die vergangen;
  Da schmilzt mein Sinn
  In Heimweh hin,
  Bin für und für gefangen.
Denn ob in Kampf und Schmerz
Kein Hauch der Jugend bliebe:
Nie doch vergißt das Herz 
Den Traum der ersten Liebe.

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

Composition:

    Set to music by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Weit, weit aus ferner Zeit", op. 60 no. 6, published 1892, stanzas 1,3 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2009-11-20
Line count: 42
Word count: 199

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Far, far from distant times,
From the green wilderness of youth
I am greeted in joy and in sorrow
By a wondrous image.
  Well do I know
  The glow of the lips
  That were wont to exchange caresses with me,
  The eyes so lovely,
  The gold of the curls,
  The pale roses of the cheeks.
For though in strife and pain
No breath of youth remain:
Never does the heart forget 
The dream of first love.

 ... 

Quietly, quietly does first love gaze at me through tears,
Gently it wishes to lean
Its curls against my shoulder.
  It beckons so lovingly,
  It sings so gloomily
  Of times that have passed;
  Thereupon my spirit melts
  Away in homesickness,
  I am ensnared forevermore.
For though in strife and pain
No breath of youth remain:
Never does the heart forget 
The dream of first love.

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

Translations of title(s):
"Aus der Jugendzeit" = "From the time of youth"
"Der Traum der ersten Liebe" = "The dream of first love"
"Nie doch vergisst das Herz den Traum der ersten Liebe" = "Never does the heart forget the dream of first love"
"Schottisch" = "Scottish"
"Schottisches Lied" = "Scottish song"
"Traum der ersten Liebe" = "Dream of first love"
"Weit, weit aus ferner Zeit" = "Far, far from distant times"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2024-03-02
Line count: 42
Word count: 219