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Die Lichter sind erloschen, Die Nacht tritt in das Haus; Die hellen Tagesgespenster Erblassen und ziehen aus. Vorüber ist der Becher, Der mir Vergessen bot; Mein Haupt ist grau, und alle, Die ich geliebt, sind tot. Ich hülle mich in den Purpur Und schaue über mein Reich. Verschneit sind Straßen und Gärten, Der Himmel ist fahl und bleich. Mein Haupt ist grau und schüttelt Sein Silber in den Wind. Ein Wächter wacht und ruft Stunden, Die tot und vorüber sind.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 28-29.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Reich des Todes", written 1898 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Christian Immo Schneider (b. 1935), "Reich des Todes", 1980 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El reialme dels morts", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Realm of the dead", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 80
The lights have been extinguished, Night enters the house; The bright ghosts of day Turn pale and depart. Gone is the goblet That proffered me oblivion; My hair is grey, and all Whom I loved are dead. I wrap myself in crimson And gaze over my realm. Snowed in are streets and gardens, The sky is pallid and pale. My hair is grey and shakes Its silver into the wind. A watchman keeps watch and calls out hours That are dead and past.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Reich des Todes", written 1898
This text was added to the website: 2014-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 83