Gondolierlied
Language: German (Deutsch)
Warum sinnst du so verlassen
Dort in stiller Einsamkeit?
Steig herab von der Terrasse,
Schwarzgelockte schöne Maid!
Hang an trüben Nachtgedanken
Stumm und traurig nicht so sehr,
Komm, auf meiner leichten Gondel
Zieh hinaus in’s weite Meer.
Herrlich strahlt der Mond am Himmel,
Uns umhaucht die laue Nacht,
Wir durchfliegen die Lagunen,
Und Venedigs stolze Pracht.
Raschen Flugs ist, wie die Möve,
Meine Gondel schmuck and schlank,
Und im leichten, flücht'gen Gleichmaass
Tönt der Ruderschläge Klang.
Einer holden Blume gleichst du,
Schön und lieblich anzuschaun.
Komm', und woll' im süssen Kosen
Dich der Liebe anvertraun.
Einst beherrscht' auf gold'ner Muschel
Venus das krystall'ne Grab;
Goldne Muschel ist mein Nachen,
Liebesgöttin, komm herab.
Confirmed with Beethoven-Album. Ein Gedenkbuch dankbarer Liebe und Verehrung für den grossen Todten, gestifter und beschrieben von einem Vereine von Künstlern und Kunstfreunden aus Frankreich, England, Italien, Deutschland, Holland, Schweden, Ungarn und Russland, Stuttgart: Hallberger'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, [1846], page 294
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):
- by Valentin Eduard Becker (1814 - 1890), "Gondolierlied", op. 78 (Drei Gesänge für 1 tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1876 [ low voice and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alexander Fesca (1820 - 1849), "Gondolier-Lied", op. 57 (Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) und Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1848 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Braunschweig, Meyer [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song of the gondolier", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 112
Song of the gondolier
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Why do you brood so forlornly
There in quiet solitude?
Descend from the terrace,
Beautiful maiden with the raven curls!
Do not cling, mute and sad,
So tightly to dismal night-thoughts,
Come, in my light gondola
Go out onto the wide sea.
Gloriously the moon shines in the heavens,
The warm night wafts about us,
We fly through the lagoons,
And through the proud splendour of Venice.
As rapid as a seagull in flight
Is my gondola, trim and slender,
And in a gentle, fleeting even rhythm
Sound the strokes of the oars.
You are like a lovely flower,
Beautiful and charming to see.
Come, and in sweet caresses
Entrust yourself to love.
Once upon a golden seashell
Venus reigned over the crystal grave;
My boat is a golden seashell,
Goddess of love, descend.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 134