Lament of love | Black ribbon, oh you my life

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by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Schwarzes Band, o du mein Leben!

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Schwarzes Band, o du mein Leben!
Ruh' auf meinem Herzen warm,
Liebe hat dich mir gegeben,
Ohne dich, wie wär' ich arm.

Fragt man mich, warum ich trage
Dieses schwarze schlechte Band,
Kann ich's nicht vor Weinen sagen:
Denn es kommt von Liebeshand.

So ich sollte ruhig schlafen
In dem Bettlein, kann's nicht sein;
Habe stets mit dir zu schaffen,
Schwarzes Band! du liebe Pein!

So ich sollte zu mir nehmen
Etwas Speise oder Trank,
Kann ich nicht for lauter Grämen
Sagen Dank:  denn ich bin krank.

Krank sein, es nicht dürfen klagen,
Ist wohl eine schwere Pein;
Lieben, es nicht dürfen sagen,
Muß ein hartes Lieben sein!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Liebesklage", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte [author's text not yet checked 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by Karl Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch (1806 - 1872), "Liebesklage", unpublished [sung text checked 1 time]
by Ernst Friedrich Kauffmann (1803 - 1856), "Liebesklage" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
by (Philipp) Friedrich Silcher (1789 - 1860), "Liebeskalge", op. 42 ([Acht] Lieder für eine Alt- oder Bariton-Stimme mit Pianofortebegleitung), Heft 2 no. 8, published 1846 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Lament of love", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-06-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 108

Lament of love

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Black ribbon, oh you my life,
Rest warmly upon my heart. 
Love gave you to me,
Without you I would be poor indeed.

If one asks me why I wear
This black, simple ribbon,
I cannot answer for weeping:
For it was given me by a beloved hand.

When I am to sleep peacefully
In this bed, it cannot be. 
I am always occupied with you,
Black ribbon, you dear pain.

If I am to take
Some food or drink,
Because of such grieving I cannot
Give thanks, for I am ill.

To be sick and not allowed to complain,
Is certainly a difficult lot. 
To love, and not be allowed to tell your love,
Is a hard loving!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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 Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Liebesklage", appears in Gedichte, in Die lyrischen Gedichte
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2008-06-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 119