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Aus der Kindheit her Weht ein Klang mir nach, Der mir [einst]1 die Seligkeit versprach -- Ohne ihn wär Leben viel zu schwer. Tönt sein Zauber nicht, Steh ich ohne Licht, Sehe Angst und Dunkel rings umher. Aber immer wieder durch das Leid, Das ich mir erwarb, Klingt der süße Ton voll Seligkeit, Den kein Weh und keine Schuld verdarb. Liebe Stimme du, Licht in meinem Haus, Lösche niemals wieder aus, Tu die blauen Augen niemals zu! Sonst verliert die Welt Allen holden Schein, Stern um Sternlein fällt, Und ich steh allein.
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.
View original text (without footnotes)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 253.
1 Bauer: "nicht"Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Aus der Kindheit her", written 1918 [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 Franz Bauer , "Aus der Kindheit her", 1943-8 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Christian Immo Schneider (b. 1935), "Aus der Kindheit her ", 1980 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Anton Würz (1903 - 1995), "Aus der Kindheit her", op. 36 no. 5 (1948) [ baritone and piano ], from Sechs Lieder für Bariton nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Venint de la infantesa ", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "From my childhood", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Venant de l'enfance", copyright © 2013, (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: 2009-04-29
Line count: 19
Word count: 92
From my childhood A sound wafts after me, [A sound] that [once]1 promised me happiness -- Without it, living would be far too hard. When its magic does not sound, I am left without light, I see fear and darkness all around me. But ever again through the suffering, Which I acquired for myself, The sweet tone full of bliss rings out, [The tone] that no pain and no guilt has spoiled. You dear voice, Light in my house, Never again let yourself be extinguished, Never close your blue eyes! Else the world shall lose All its lovely radiance, Star upon star would fall, And I would stand alone.
1 Bauer: "did not"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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), "Aus der Kindheit her", written 1918
This text was added to the website: 2018-02-28
Line count: 19
Word count: 109