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Herwandernd aus den Bergen durch die Nacht Hat mich der Weg durch fahle Wiesensäume Und weiche Schatten unsichtbarer Bäume Ans offene Tor der alten Stadt gebracht. Durch eine lange Straße schritt ich sacht, Und nirgends schien aus all den schwarzen Scheiben Ein einzig Kerzenlicht und lud zum Bleiben, Und alles schlief, und überall war Nacht. Erst, da ich wieder weit im Felde ging Und rückwärts auf die wunderlich gebaute, Schlafwirre Flucht der dunkeln Giebel schaute, Sah ich ein Licht, das hoch im Turme hing. Und oben am Gesims war Einer wach; Der trug am Strick die schaukelnde Laterne Und bog sich vor und schaute in die Ferne Und meinen kaum gehörten Schritten nach.
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 128-129.
Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Auf einer Nachtwanderung", written 1903 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Kurt Hessenberg (1908 - 1994), "Auf einer Nachtwanderung", op. 80 (Acht Lieder) no. 5 (<<1966) [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "En una caminada nocturna", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Upon a nighttime ramble", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sur une randonnée nocturne", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 113
Wandering hither from the mountains through the night My path has led me through dun-coloured meadow edges And soft shadows of invisible trees To the open gate of the old city. I strode gently through a long street And nowhere out of all the black windowpanes Shone a single candle and invited one to abide, And everything slept and everywhere it was night. Only when I again wandered far away in a field And looked back upon the strangely-constructed, Sleep-tangled row of dark gables, I saw a light, suspended high in a tower. And high up upon a cornice one person was awake; On a rope he carried the swinging lantern And leaned forward and gazed into the far distance And followed my barely-heard footsteps.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Auf einer Nachtwanderung", written 1903
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 125