by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Der Strom
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA ITA
Mein Leben wälzt sich murrend fort;
Es steigt und fällt in krausen Wogen,
Hier bäumt es sich, jagt nieder dort,
In wilden Zügen, hohen Bogen.

Das stille Thal, das grüne Feld
Durchrauscht es nun mit leisem Beben,
Sich Ruh ersehnend, ruhige Welt,
Ergötzt es sich am ruhigen Leben.

Doch nimmer findend, was es sucht,
Und immer sehnend, tost es weiter,
Unmuthig rollt's auf steter Flucht,
Wird nimmer froh, wird nimmer heiter.

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) , "El riu", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De stroom", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The river", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La rivière", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Paolo Pupillo) (Claretta Manara) , "Il torrente", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Il fiume", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

The river
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
My life rolls grumbling onward,
rising and falling in undulating waves,
here rearing up, there darting down,
in wild jerks and high arches.

Through the silent valley, the green field,
it rushes now, gently trembling;
longing for peace, for a calm world,
it takes delight in this tranquil life.

But never finding what it seeks,
and ever yearning, my life rages on;
without pleasure it rolls on steadily,
never content, never happy.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 72