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Wer auf den Wogen schliefe, ein sanft gewiegtes Kind, kennt nicht des Lebens Tiefe, vor süßem Träumen blind. Doch wen die Stürme fassen zu wildem Tanz und Fest, wen hoch auf dunklen Straßen die falsche Welt verläßt: Der lernt sich wacker rühren, durch Nacht und Klippen hin - lernt der das Steuer führen mit sichrem, ernstem Sinn. Der ist von echtem Kerne, erprobt zu Lust und Pein, der glaubt an Gott und Sterne, der soll mein Schiffmann sein!
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Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 3. Zeitlieder, in Die Freunde, no. 1 [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 August Püringer , "Der Freund", op. 1 (5 Gedichte für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Fritzsch [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Der Freund", 1886-8 [ voice and piano ], from Eichendorff-Lieder, no. 1
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L'amic", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The friend", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'ami", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Stéphane Goldet) (Pierre de Rosamel) , "L'ami", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "L'amico", 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: 16
Word count: 77
He who can sleep upon the waves is a gently lulled infant, who knows nothing of life's depths and is blind from sweet dreams. But he whom the storms grab for their wild dance and festival, whom, high upon the dark streets abandons the false world, he learns to move bravely through the night and navigate the cliffs - he learns to steer the helm with a confident and serious mind. He is of authentic heart, tried by joy and pain; he believes in God and the stars - this man shall be my helmsman!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 3. Zeitlieder, in Die Freunde, no. 1
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94