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Immer bin ich ohne Ziel gegangen, Wollte nie zu einer Rast gelangen, Meine Wege schienen ohne Ende. Endlich sah ich, daß ich nur im Kreise Wanderte, und wurde müd der Reise. Jener Tag war meines Lebens Wende. Zögernd geh ich nun dem Ziel entgegen, Denn ich weiß: auf allen meinen Wegen Steht der Tod und bietet mir die Hände.
About the headline (FAQ)
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., 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, page 139.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Dem Ziel entgegen", written 1906 [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 Géza Frid (1904 - 1989), "Dem Ziel entgegen", op. 60 no. 4, published 1960 [ voice and piano ], from Auf Reise, liederencyclus in de modus lascivus, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alfred Valentin Heuß (1877 - 1934), "Das Ziel", op. 2 no. 3, published 1918 [ voice and piano ], from Fünf Lieder vom Tode, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Kracke (1910 - 1989), "Das Ziel", 1943 [ low male voice and piano ], from Musik des Einsamen, no. 7 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Kracke (1910 - 1989), "Das Ziel", 1943 [ low male voice and piano ], from Musik des Einsamen, no. 7 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Krause (b. 1889), "Dem Ziel entgegen", op. 38 no. 10, published 1964 [ voice and piano ], from Zehn Gedichte von Hermann Hesse, no. 10 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Walter Lange (1884 - 1960), "Das Ziel", 1954 [ voice and piano ], from Fünf Lieder von Hermann Hesse, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Will Mewes , "Das Ziel", 1929 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], from Musik des Einsamen - Ein Liederzyklus von Hermann Hesse, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ernst Ludwig Meyer-Olbersleben (1898 - 1991), "Das Ziel", 1953 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Heinz Sälter , "Das Ziel", op. 14 no. 3 (1949) [ four-part mixed chorus a cappella ], from Fünf Chorsätze und ein Kanon nach Worten von Hermann Hesse, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Philippine Schick (1893 - 1970), "Das Ziel", op. 27 no. 6 (1934), first performed 1936 [ voice and piano or orchestra ], from Lieder des Todes, 2. Folge, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Das Ziel", op. 24b no. 8 (1914), published 1917 [ voice and piano ], from Lieder nach Gedichten von Spitteler, Gamper, Hesse und Keller, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Herbert Schultz (b. 1911), "Dem Ziel entgegen ", 1947 [ alto and piano ], from Fünf Lieder für Altstimme und Klavier nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Herbert Schweikert (b. 1927), "Das Ziel", 1952 [ alto and five string instruments ], from Über die Felder... : Sechs Gesänge nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alfred Stier (1880 - 1968), "Das Ziel", <<1954 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Gesänge nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Claus Swienty , "Dem Ziel entgegen", from 5 Lieder on words of Hermann Hesse, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Werner Vogel , "Das Ziel", 1941 [ voice and piano ], from Herbstliche Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Rudolf Wagner-Régeny (1903 - 1969), "Das Ziel", published 1970 [ baritone and piano ], from Hermann-Hesse-Lieder, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Vers le but", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: John Versmoren , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 9
Word count: 59
Always I walked without a goal, I never wanted to reach any resting place, My pathways seemed to be without end. Finally I saw that I only wandered In a circle, and I wearied of the journey. That day was the turning point of my life. Hesitantly I now walk towards the goal, For I know: upon all my pathways Death stands and offers me its hands.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Dem Ziel entgegen" = "Towards the goal"
"Das Ziel" = "The goal"
"Immer bin ich ohne Ziel gegangen" = "Always I walked without a goal"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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), "Dem Ziel entgegen", written 1906
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-15
Line count: 9
Word count: 67