What does this solitary tear mean? | What does this solitary tear mean?

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Was will die einsame Träne

(Sung text for setting by R. Franz)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA

Was will die einsame Thräne?
Sie trübt mir ja den Blick.
Sie blieb aus alten Zeiten
In meinem Auge zurück.

Sie hat viel' leuchtende Schwestern,
Die alle zerflossen sind,
Mit meinen Qualen und Freuden,
Zerflossen in Nacht und Wind.

Wie Nebel sind auch zerflossen
Die blauen Sternelein,
Die mir jene Freuden und Qualen
Gelächelt ins Herz hinein.

Ach, meine Liebe selber
Zerfloß wie eitel Hauch!
Du alte, einsame Thräne,
Zerfließe jetzunder auch!

Modern German would change "Thräne" to "Träne".

Composition:

Robert Franz

Text Authorship:

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), title 1: "Was will die einsame Träne", title 2: "Was will die einsame Thräne?", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 27

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Marta Garcia Cadena) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Jos. Van de Vijver) , "Eenzame traan"
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Wat wil het eenzame traantje?", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "What does this solitary tear mean?", copyright ©
ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Que veut cette larme solitaire", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Cosa vuole questa lacrima solitaria?", copyright © 2010, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 74

What does this solitary tear mean?

(Sung text translation for setting by R. Franz)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

 What does this solitary tear mean?
 - it so blurs my gaze.
 It has lingered since long ago
 behind my eye.
 
 It had several shining sisters,
 which have all flown away
 with my agonies and joys,
 flown away in night and wind.
 
 Like mist have also faded away
 the blue little stars
 through which my joys and agonies
 were smiled into my heart.
 
 Alas, my love itself
 has vanished, like a vain breath!
 You old, lonely tear,
 flow down then and be gone!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), title 1: "Was will die einsame Träne", title 2: "Was will die einsame Thräne?", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 27
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83