sometimes misattributed to Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884) and by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die dunkeln Linden
 (Sung text for setting by F. Gumbert)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Zurückgekehrt zum Heimathsort,
Seh' endlich ich im Thale dort
Die alten dunkeln Linden!
Dort hat sie mich zuletzt geküßt,
Hat mir noch lange nachgegrüßt!
Bald werd' ich sie nun finden.

  Und doch ist mir das Herz so schwer.
Welch' tiefe Stille rings umher!
Es rauschen nur die Linden;
 ... 

 ... 
Da war von je ihr liebster Baum,
Da träumten wir solch' schönen Traum,
Da war sie stets zu finden! --

  Und als ich kam dem Orte nah,
Manch schwarzes Kreuzlein sah ich da,
Umrauscht von dunkeln Linden;
Dazu ein Grab, noch frisch umblüht,
Da sang die Nachtigall ihr Lied, --
Da war mein Lieb zu finden!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1, 2 (lines 1-3), 3 (lines 4-6), 4 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Ferdinand Gumbert (1818 - 1896), "Die dunkeln Linden", op. 27 no. 2, published 1849, stanzas 1, 2 (lines 1-3), 3 (lines 4-6), 4 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel u. Stoll; note: the text is misattributed to Geibel in the score

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website: 2011-03-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 140

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  Having returned to my home town,
I finally see there in the valley
The old, dark linden trees!
'Twas there that she last kissed me,
Stood long still sending greetings after me!
Soon I shall now find her.

  And yet my heart is so heavy.
What a deep silence all about!
Only the linden trees are soughing;
 ... 

 ... 
There stood what had always been her favourite tree,
There we dreamt such happy dreams,
There she was always to be found! --

  And as I came near to the place,
I saw many a small black cross,
Surrounded by the soughing of dark linden trees;
Among them a grave, still freshly adorned with flowers,
There the nightingale sang its song, --
There I found my love!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1, 2 (lines 1-3), 3 (lines 4-6), 4 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2020-09-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 167