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Mein Aug' ist trüb, mein Mund ist stumm. Du heißest mich reden, es sei darum. Dein Aug' ist klar, dein Mund ist rot, Und was du [nur]1 wünschest, das ist ein Gebot. Mein Haar ist grau, mein Herz ist wund, Du bist so jung, und bist so gesund. Du heißest mich reden, und machst mir's so schwer. Ich seh' dich so an, und zittre so sehr.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Grieg: "nun"
Authorship
- by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Was soll ich sagen?", written 1819, appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte [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 Zdenko Antonín Václav Fibich (1850 - 1900), "Frage", H. 107 (1869). [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Was soll ich sagen?", op. 2 (Vier Lieder) no. 4 (1861), published 1863/4. [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Was soll ich sagen?", op. 27 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 1)) no. 3 (1840), published 1849 [voice and piano], Leipzig, Whistling [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Moritz Weyermann (fl. 1872), "Was soll ich sagen", op. 5 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 1. [voice and piano] [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Wat moet ik zeggen?", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "My eyes are troubled", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Que dois-je dire", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 66
My eyes are troubled, my mouth is dumb, you tell me to speak, and yet it remains so. Your eyes are clear, your mouth is red, and what you only wish is my command. My hair is grey, my heart is wounded; you are so young, and so healthy. You bid me to speak, and make it so difficult. I gaze on you, and I tremble.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Was soll ich sagen?", written 1819, appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 66