by Heinrich Hart (1855 - 1906)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Wenn du es wüßtest
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA JPN SPA
Wenn du es wüßtest,
Was träumen heißt von brennenden Küssen,
Von Wandern und Ruhen mit der Geliebten,
Aug in Auge,
Und kosend und plaudernd,
Wenn du es wüßtest,
Du neigtest dein Herz!

Wenn du es wüßtest,
Was bangen heißt in einsamen Nächten,
Umschauert vom Sturm, da niemand tröstet
Milden Mundes die kampfmüde Seele,
Wenn du es wüßtest,
Du [kämst]1 zu mir.

Wenn du es wüßtest,
Was leben heißt, umhaucht von der Gottheit
Weltschaffendem Atem,
Zu schweben empor, lichtgetragen,
Zu seligen [Höhen]2,
Wenn du es wüßtest,
Du lebtest mit mir!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   R. Strauss 

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Strauss: "kämest"
2 Strauss: "Höhn"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Sílvia Pujalte Piñán) , "Cecília", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Caecilia", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Cecily", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Cécile", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Cecilia", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • JPN Japanese (日本語) (Naoyuki Okada) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , copyright © 2018, (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: 20
Word count: 89

Caecilia
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Als je zou weten,
Wat dromen is van brandende kussen,
Van zwerven en rusten met je geliefde,
Oog in oog steeds,
Al strelend en keuv'lend,
Als je 't zou weten,
Dan zwichtte jouw hart!
 
Als je zou weten,
Wat bang zijn is in eenzame nachten,
Beangst door de storm, als niemand opbeurt,
Zachtjes sprekend, de ziel moegestreden,
Als je 't zou weten,
Dan kwam je naar mij.
 
Als je zou weten,
Wat leven is, omzucht door de godheid,
Haar scheppende adem,
Te zweven omhoog, lichtgedragen,
Naar hemelse sfeer,
Als je 't zou weten,
Dan bleef jij bij mij!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2013 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com


    If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2013-12-21
Line count: 20
Word count: 98