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What means the lonely tear? Which dims my saddened gaze? A remnant, ‘tis the last, Of early, bygone days. ‘Tis one of many sisters, Who long ago were shed, O’er former joys and sorrows, In wind and darkness fled. Like vapoury clouds dissolving, Those azure stars are gone, Which one each joy and sorrows, Once on my eyelids shone. And even my love has melted Away in empty air, Then go, thou lonely teardrop, Go thou and and join it there.
Authorship
- by Mary Alexander (1806 - 1859) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 27
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 - 1847), "What means the lonely tear?", 1834, from Three poems by Heinrich Heine in the translations of Mary Alexander, no. 3. [ sung text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2017-06-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 81
Wat zegt die enk’le traan, Die ’t zien belemmert mij? Het is een overblijfsel Van dagen lang voorbij. ’t Is één van vele zusjes Waardoor ‘k toen werd verblind, Van oude pijn en vreugde; ‘t Verdween in nacht en wind. Als mist is ook vervlogen Die blauwe sterrenpracht, Die zoveel pijn en vreugde Mij in de ogen bracht. En ook mijn liefde zelf, ja, Smolt weg in lege lucht, Dus ga, jij eenzaam traantje, Neem jij ook maar de vlucht.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- Singable translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2017 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:
- a text in English by Mary Alexander (1806 - 1859)
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 27
This text was added to the website: 2017-06-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 80