Nacht lag auf meinen Augen, Blei lag auf meinem Mund, Mit starrem Hirn und Herzen Lag ich im Grabesgrund. Wie lang, kann ich nicht sagen, Daß ich geschlafen hab; Ich wachte auf und hörte, Wies pochte an mein Grab. «Willst du nicht aufstehn, Heinrich? Der ewge Tag bricht an, Die Toten sind erstanden, Die ewge Lust begann.» Mein Lieb, ich kann nicht aufstehn, Bin ja noch immer blind; Durch Weinen meine Augen Gänzlich erloschen sind. «Ich will dir küssen, Heinrich, Vom Auge fort die Nacht; Die Engel sollst du schauen, Und auch des Himmels Pracht.» Mein Lieb, ich kann nicht aufstehn, Noch blutets immerfort, Wo du ins Herz mich stachest Mit einem spitzgen Wort. «Ganz leise leg ich, Heinrich, Dir meine Hand aufs Herz; Dann wird es nicht mehr bluten, Geheilt ist all sein Schmerz.» Mein Lieb, ich kann nicht aufstehn, Es blutet auch mein Haupt; Hab ja hineingeschossen, Als du mir wurdest geraubt. «Mit meinen Locken, Heinrich, Stopf ich des Hauptes Wund, Und dräng zurück den Blutstrom, Und mache dein Haupt gesund.» Es bat so sanft, so lieblich, Ich konnt nicht widerstehn; Ich wollte mich erheben Und zu der Liebsten gehn. Da brachen auf die Wunden, Da stürzt' mit wilder Macht Aus Kopf und Brust der Blutstrom, Und sieh! - ich bin erwacht.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 167.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 64 [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 Karen De Pastel (b. 1949), "Nacht lag auf meinen Augen", 1974, from Sieben Lieder nach Texten von Heinrich Heine, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Carl) August Fischer (1828 - 1892), "Böser Traum", op. 11 (Lieder) no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Olivier Greif (1950 - 2000), "Nacht lag auf meinen Augen", op. 49 (Light music) no. 5 (1974) [ duet for soprano and baritone with piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by H. Rupp , "Böser Traum", from Zwei Lieder, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans van Zijp , "Nacht lag auf meinen Augen", 1986/7, published c1993 [ mezzo-soprano, bass clarinet, and piano ], from De slaapliederen (Les berceuses), no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Albert Bertelin.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by John [Jacques] Jacobsson.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- FRE French (Français) (Charles Beltjens) , no title, appears in Intermezzo lyrique, no. 64, first published 1827
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-02-19
Line count: 44
Word count: 214
Night lay upon my eyelids, About my lips earth clave; With stony heart and forehead I lay within my grave. How long I cannot reckon, I slept in that straight bed; I woke and heard distinctly A knocking overhead. "Wilt thou not rise, my Henry? The eternal dawn is here; The dead have re-arisen, Immortal bliss is near." "I cannot rise, my darling, I am blinded to the day. Mine eyes with tears, thou knowest, Have wept themselves away. "Oh, I will kiss them, Henry, Kiss from thine eyes the night. Thou shalt behold the angels And the celestial light." "I cannot rise, my darling, My blood is still outpoured Where thou didst wound my heart once With sharp and cruel word." "I'll lay my hand, dear Henry, Upon thy heart again. Then shall it cease from bleeding, And still shall be its pain." "I cannot rise, my darling, My head is bleeding -- see! I shot myself, thou knowest, When thou wast reft from me." "Oh, with my hair, dear Henry, I'll staunch the cruel wound, And press the blood-stream backward; Thou shalt be whole and sound." So kind, so sweet she wooed me, I could not say her nay; I tried to rise and follow, And clasp my loving may. Then all my wounds burst open, From head and breast outbreak The gushing blood in torrents -- And lo, I am awake!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 64
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-13
Line count: 44
Word count: 232