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Mein Kissen schaut mich an zur Nacht Leer wie ein Totenstein; So bitter hatt ich's nie gedacht, Allein zu sein Und nicht in deinem Haar gebettet sein! Ich lieg allein im stillen Haus, Die Ampel ausgetan, Und strecke sacht die Hände aus, Die deinen zu umfahn, Und dränge leis den heißen Mund Nach Dir und küss mich matt und wund - Und plötzlich bin ich aufgewacht Und ringsum schweigt die kalte Nacht, Der Stern im Fenster schimmert klar - O du, wo ist dein blondes Haar, Wo ist dein süßer Mund? Nun trink ich Weh in jeder Lust Und Gift in jedem Wein; So bitter hatt ich's nie gewußt, Allein zu sein, Allein und ohne dich zu sein!
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 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 202-203.
Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Ohne dich", written 1913 [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 Maria Bach (1896 - 1978), as Emilie Maria von Bach, "Ohne Dich", 1958 [ baritone and piano ], from Fünf Lieder nach Texten von H. Hesse, no. 4, Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek  [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Gerhardt, jun. (1888 - 1985), "Ohne dich" [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Heinz-Otto Hoffmann (b. 1902), "Ohne dich", 1932-47 [ voice and piano ], from 21 Lieder, no. 13 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Christian Immo Schneider (b. 1935), "Ohne dich ", 1980 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Without you", copyright © 2019, (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: 2009-05-06
Line count: 21
Word count: 118
My pillow stares at me o' nights As empty as a tombstone; I never thought it would be so bitter To be alone And not bedded in your hair! I lie alone in the quiet house, The lamp extinguished, And gently I stretch out my hands To clasp yours, And my fervent lips press themselves softly Toward you and I kiss until I am weary and wounded - And suddenly I waken And round about the cold night is silent, The star in the window shimmers clearly - Oh you, where is your blonde hair, Where are your sweet lips? Now I drink pain in every joy And poison in every wine; I would never have imagined it to be so bitter To be alone, Alone and without you!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Ohne dich", written 1913
This text was added to the website: 2019-02-21
Line count: 21
Word count: 129