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Ich weiß, was du mir sagen Möchtest in dieser Stund - Sag's nicht! Sieh dort den dämmernden Grund Des Weihers und wie sich jagen Die Spiegelwolken in schwarzer Pracht - Sag's nicht! Heut ist eine schlimme Nacht. Ich weiß, in dieser Stunde Stürmt dir die tiefste Brust Von allem, was du mich fragen mußt. Frag' nicht! An deinem Munde Säumt noch das Wort, das elend macht - Sag's nicht! Heut ist eine schlimme Nacht. Du sollst mir's morgen sagen - Wir wissen nicht, vielleicht Ist morgen alles wunderleicht, Was heut kein Herz kann tragen Und was mich jetzt so elend macht - Frag' nicht! Heut ist eine schlimme Nacht.
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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, pages 59-60.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Nicht heut", written 1900 [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- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Frag nicht!", 1914 [ voice and piano ], unpublished [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Kurt Hessenberg (1908 - 1994), "Nicht heut", op. 80 (Acht Lieder) no. 4 (<<1966) [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Schmiedel (b. 1921), "Nicht heut ", 1983 [ voice and guitar ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Not today", copyright © 2018, (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: 18
Word count: 104
I know what you wish to say To me in this hour- Do not say it! See yonder the twilit surface Of the pond and how the reflected clouds Chase each other in black splendour - Do not say it! This is an evil night. I know, in this hour In your deepest breast there rages a storm Of everything that you must ask me. Do not ask! May the word that creates misery Linger [unspoken] upon your lips - Do not say it! This is an evil night. You shall say it to me tomorrow - We do not know, perhaps Tomorrow everything shall be wondrously light That today no heart can bear And that at this moment makes me so miserable - Do not ask! This is an evil 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), "Nicht heut", written 1900
This text was added to the website: 2018-10-08
Line count: 18
Word count: 128