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O so in später Nacht nach Hause gehen, Verliebt, verschmäht, von keinem Kuß beglückt, Und in die bleichen Himmelsfelder sehn, Wo der Orion traurig erdwärts rückt. Und dann daheim, von Licht und Bett empfangen, Sich niederlegen einsam und betrogen, Von schweren Wünschen hin und her gezogen, Umsonst nach Schlaf, nach Traum, nach Trost verlangen. Voll Trauer über ein verschwendet Leben In Schächten der Erinnerung schürfen Und wissen, daß nur ein Trost uns gegeben: Dem Lebenmüssen folgt das Sterbendürfen!
About the headline (FAQ)
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 4 Der Steppenwolf. Narziß und Goldmund. Die Morgenlandfahrt, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2001, page 223.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "O so in später Nacht . . .", appears in Krisis. Ein Stück Tagebuch., no. 17, first published 1926 [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 Hans Kracke (1910 - 1989), "O so in später Nacht nach Hause gehen", 1947 [ voice and piano ], from Trost der Nacht - Liederzyklus nach neun Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 9 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 78
Oh, to walk home thus in deep night, In love, spurned, by no kiss delighted, And to gaze into the pale fields of heaven, Where Orion sadly moves toward the earth. And then at home, received by light and bed, To lie down, solitary and betrayed, Pulled back and forth by heavy wishes, Yearning in vain for sleep, for dreams, for consolation. Full of mourning over a wasted life To prospect in the mineshafts of memory And to know that only one solace is given to us: The you-must-live is followed by the you-may-die!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"O so in später Nacht . . ." = "Oh thus in deep night . . ."
"O so in später Nacht nach Hause gehen" = "Oh, to walk home thus in deep night"
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), "O so in später Nacht . . .", appears in Krisis. Ein Stück Tagebuch., no. 17, first published 1926
This text was added to the website: 2018-05-02
Line count: 12
Word count: 94