by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Harald Krebs

O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
O Freund, mein Schmuck, mein Putz!
Mein Stolz, mein Trost, mein Trutz!

Mein Bollwerk, o mein Schild!
Wo's einen Kampf mir gilt,
Flücht ich [zu]1 deinem Bild.

Wenn mich in Jammerschlucht
Die Welt zu drängen sucht,
Nehm' ich zu dir die Flucht.

Ob sie mir Bitt'res bot,
Mit Bittrerem mir droht,
So klag' ich dir die Not.

Du schickest ohn ein Wort
Des Trostes mich nicht fort,
Du bist und bleibst mein Hort.

Der Erde Weh ist Scherz,
Hier leg ich an dein Herz
Mich selbst und meinen Schmerz.

O Welt, was du mir tust,
Ich ruh in stiller Lust
An meines Freundes Brust!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   R. Schumann 

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schumann: "mich zu"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Lied 'O vriend!'", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Harald Krebs) , "Song", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Margo Briessinck

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 111

Song
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oh friend, my screen, my shelter!
Oh friend, my ornament, my adornment!
My pride, my comfort, my weapon!

My bulwark, oh, my shield!
Wherever I must fight
I take refuge in your image.

When into the abyss of sorrow
The world seeks to force me,
I fly to you.

If [the world] offers me bitterness
Or threatens me with [even] greater bitterness,
I complain to you of my pain.

You do not send me away
Without a word of comfort.
You are and you remain my safe retreat.

The earth's woe is a jest,
Here I lay upon your heart
Myself and my pain.

Oh world, whatever you may do to me,
I rest in quiet joy
On my friend's breast!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Harald 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.
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Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2009-10-22
Line count: 21
Word count: 121