The weeping willow | No matter how brightly the brook sparkles

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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Trauerweide

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Wie hell auch blitzt der Bach, 
Schaust du, o Trauerweide, 
Im alten bittern Leide 
Das Haupt gesenkt, ihm nach. 
  Kein Ufergrün, kein Sonnenschein 
  Ach! heilt die Pein! 

Wohl grünst im Lenz auch du! 
Doch nimmer weicht die Trauer, 
Singt auch mit süßem Schauer 
Die Amsel Trost dir zu.
  Kein Blüthenduft, kein Mondenschein
  Ach! heilt die Pein!

Zum Leid nur bist du hier,
Und nie wird's anders werden;
Das ist dein Loos auf Erden,
Von je geordnet dir.
  Wann fährt der Blitz in's Mark hinein, 
  Und heilt die Pein?

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 46-47.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Trauerweide", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 51 [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 (Carl or Caspar) Joseph Brambach (1833 - 1902), "Die Trauerweide", op. 33 (Drei Gesänge für Alt (oder Bass) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1876 [ alto or bass and piano ], Mainz, Schott [sung text not yet checked]
by Christian Fink (1831 - 1911) [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Kossmaly (1812 - 1893) [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894) [sung text not yet checked]
by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The weeping willow", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-02-20
Line count: 18
Word count: 88

The weeping willow

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

No matter how brightly the brook sparkles,
You, oh weeping willow, 
Gaze after it with bent head
In the old bitter grief.
  No green along the bank, no sunshine
  Ah! heals your anguish!

To be sure, you, too, grow green in springtime!
But the sorrow never abates,
Even when with sweet shivers
The blackbird sings you comfort.
  No scent of blossoms, no moonlight
  Ah! heals your anguish!

You are here only for suffering,
And it shall never change;
That is your lot upon earth,
Meted out to you from time immemorial.
  When shall the lightning bolt slash into your marrow,
  And heal your anguish?

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Trauerweide", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 51
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-02-24
Line count: 18
Word count: 104