by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
Translation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
Über diesen Strom, vor Jahren
Language: German (Deutsch)
Über diesen Strom, vor Jahren Bin ich einmal schon gefahren. Hier die Burg im Abendschimmer, Drüben rauscht das Wehr wie immer. Und vom diesen Kahn umschlossen Waren mit mir zween Genoßen: Ach! ein Freund, ein vatergleicher, Und ein junger, hoffnungsreicher. Jener wirkte still hienieden, Und so ist er auch geschieden; Dieser, brausend vor uns Allen, Ist in Kampf und Sturm gefallen. So, wenn ich vergangner Tage, Glücklicker, zu denken wage, Muß ich stets Genoßen missen, Teure, die der Tod entrissen. Doch, was alle Freundschaft bindet, Ist, wenn Geist zu Geist sich findet, Geistig waren jene Stunden, Geistern bin ich noch verbunden. Nimm nur, Fährmann, nimm die Miethe, Die ich gerne dreifach biete: Zweien, die mit mir überfuhren, Waren geistige Naturen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862), "Auf der Überfahrt", appears in Lieder [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 Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Die Überfahrt", op. 94 no. 1 (1843) [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) , appears in Hyperion, chapter 6, first published 1839 ; composed by Francis Romer.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Lawrence Snyder) , "The crossing", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La traversée", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Lawrence Snyder
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 120
The ferry
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Many a year is in its grave, Since I crossed this restless wave; And the evening, fair as ever, Shines on ruin, rock, and river. Then, in this same boat, beside, Sat two comrades old and tried; One with all a father's truth, One with all the fire of youth. One on earth in silence wrought, And his grave in silence sought; But the younger, brighter form Passed in battle and in storm! So, whene'er I turn my eye Back upon the days gone by, Saddening thoughts of friends come o'er me, -- Friends, who closed their course before me. Yet what binds us, friend to friend, But that soul with soul can blend? Soul-like were those hours of yore; Let us walk in soul once more! Take, O boatman, thrice thy fee; Take, -- I give it willingly; For, invisibly to thee, Spirits twain have crossed with me!
Text Authorship:
- by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), appears in Hyperion, chapter 6, first published 1839 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862), "Auf der Überfahrt", appears in Lieder
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Francis (Frank) Romer (1810 - 1889), "The ferry" [voice and piano] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 147