We walked through the silent, mild night

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by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Nachtgesang

(Sung text for setting by A. Berg)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA

Wir gingen durch die dunkle, milde Nacht,
Dein Arm in meinem, 
Dein Auge in meinem.
Der Mond goß silbernes Licht 
Über dein Angesicht,
Wie auf Goldgrund ruhte dein schönes Haupt.
Und du erschienst mir wie eine Heilige,
Mild, mild und groß und seelenübervoll,
Gütig und rein wie die liebe Sonne.
Und in die Augen
Schwoll mir ein warmer Drang, 
Wie Tränenahnung.
Fester faßt' ich dich 
Und küßte -- 
Küßte dich ganz leise --
Meine Seele weinte.

Composition:

Alban Maria Johannes Berg

Jugendlieder, Vol. I (1901-04)

Text Authorship:

by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910), "Nachtgang"

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Manuel Capdevila i Font) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sortie nocturne", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Passeggiata notturna", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Night song

(Sung text translation for setting by A. Berg)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

We walked through the silent, mild night,
your arm in mine, 
your eyes in mine.
The moon poured silver light 
upon your face,
as though gold rested on your fair head.
And you appeared to me an angel,
mild, mild and great and overflowing with soul,
holy and pure like the dear sun.
And in my eyes 
swelled urgent warmth,
as of threatening tears.
I held you tighter 
and kissed you, 
kissed you very softly.
My soul wept.

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 Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910), "Nachtgang"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 78