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Du mein einzig Licht, Die Lilj und Ros hat nicht, Was an Farb und Schein Dir möcht ähnlich sein, Nur daß dein stolzer Mut Der Schönheit unrecht thut. "Trennen wollten wir uns? Wähnten wir es klug und gut? Da wir es thaten, Warum schröckte, wie Mord, Uns die That?" Meine Heimat du, Von [solcher]1 Lust und Ruh Ist der Himmel gar Wie die Erde bar. Nur daß dein strenges Wort Mich [wehrt]2 vom süßen Port. "Ach! Wir kennen uns wenig, Denn es waltet ein Gott in uns." Alle Vöglein hier samt ihrer Melodie jubilierten nicht ohn' der Liebe Pflicht und würden nicht erfreut durch diese Frühlingzeit. Darum Liebster laß uns beid ohn' Unterlaß reden Tag und Nacht von der Liebe Macht. Das schafft dem Herzen Freud, vertreibt mit Lust die Zeit.
J. Brahms sets stanzas 1, 3
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Brahms: "welcher"
2 Brahms: "weht"
Text Authorship:
- sometimes misattributed to Volkslieder (Folksongs)
- by Heinrich Albert (1604 - 1651) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Simon Dach (1605 - 1659) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Du mein einzig Licht", WoO. 33 no. 37, published [1894], stanzas 1,3, from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 37, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ludwig Gellert (1827 - 1913), "Du mein einzig Licht", op. 12 (Vier Gesänge für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1877 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Henkel [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Philipp) Friedrich Silcher (1789 - 1860), "Minnelied" [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), adapted by Otto Roquette (1824 - 1896) , "Du mein einzig Licht!", subtitle: "Zu einer Volksmelodie" [an adaptation] ; composed by Anton Deprosse.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "You my only light", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Toi mon unique lumière", copyright © 2013, (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: 31
Word count: 133
Jij, mijn enig licht! De roos, de lelie mist Wat aan kleur en schijn Jou gelijk kon zijn; Slechts dat jouw trots gemoed Je schoonheid onrecht doet. “Scheiden, wilden wij dat? Vonden wij dat wijs en goed? Toen wij het deden, Waarom schokte als moord Ons die daad?” Mijn echt thuis ben jij! Zo vol van rust en blij Is de hemel nooit Noch de aarde ooit. Slechts dat jouw strenge woord Mij weert van 't zoete oord. “Ach! Slecht kennen w' elkander, Want er woont toch een God in ons. “ Alle vogels hier Met hun getierelier, Geen van hen die zong, Als niet liefde dwong Noch werd hij dan verblijd Door deze lentetijd. Daarom, liefste, laat Ons beiden metterdaad Praten dag en nacht Over liefdes macht. Dat maakt het hart verblijd, Verdrijft plezant de tijd.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2015 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) and by Heinrich Albert (1604 - 1651)
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Simon Dach (1605 - 1659) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2015-03-06
Line count: 31
Word count: 137