by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Sehnsucht
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ich ging den Weg entlang, der einsam lag, Den stets allein ich gehe jeden Tag. Die Heide schweigt, das Feld ist menschenleer; Der Wind nur weht im Knickbusch um mich her. Weit liegt vor mir die Straße ausgedehnt; Es hat mein Herz nur dich, nur dich ersehnt. Und kämest Du, ein Wunder wär's für mich, Ich neigte mich vor dir: ich liebe dich. Und im Begegnen, nur ein einzger Blick, Des ganzen Lebens wär er mein Geschick. Und richtest du dein Auge kalt auf mich, Ich trotze Mädchen dir: ich liebe dich. Doch wenn dein schönes Auge grüßt und lacht, Wie eine Sonne mir in schwerer Nacht, Ich zöge rasch dein süßes Herz an mich Und flüstre leise dir: ich liebe dich.
Text Authorship:
- by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Sehnsucht", appears in Haidegänger [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 Hans Hermann (1870 - 1931), "Sehnsucht", op. 13 no. 2, published 1896 [ voice and piano ], from Detlev von Lilienkron's deutsche Meisterlieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Berlin, Schuster & Loeffler [sung text not yet checked]
- by Czesław Józef Marek (1891 - 1985), "Sehnsucht", op. 1 no. 6 (1911) [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Lieder = Szesc pieśni, no. 6, also set in Polish (Polski) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Erich Pfitzner (1869 - 1949), "Sehnsucht", op. 10 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1896), published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, M. Brockhaus [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Friedrich Schaffner (d. 1903), "Sehnsucht", op. 9 no. 2, published 1899 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], München, Schmid Nachf. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Sehnsucht", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1896) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Georg Vollerthun (1876 - 1945), "Sehnsucht", published <<1905 [ medium voice and piano ], from Gesänge für mittlere Stimme, no. 1, Leipzig, C. F. Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bertha Frensel Wegener-Koopman (1874 - 1953), "Sehnsucht", 1901 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Lieder, no. 3, Amsterdam: Alsbach [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wim Zwaag (b. 1960), "Sehnsucht", 2007 [ voice and piano ], from 3 Songs on poems by Detlev von Liliencron for Voice and Piano, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Polish (Polski), a translation by Czesław Józef Marek (1891 - 1985) , "Tęsknota" ; composed by Czesław Józef Marek.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Deler", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Hunkering", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Jakob Kellner) , "Longing", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "Longing", first published 1897
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Désir intense", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Desiderio", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- JPN Japanese (日本語) (Naoyuki Okada) , "憧れ", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Jakob Kellner
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 122
Longing
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I went along the road that lonely lay, The road I love to wander day by day. No sound is heard, the moorlands are adream, Soft breezes sighing kiss the murm'ring stream. No soul is stirring far as the eye can see. My heart has long'd for thee, long'd but for thee. And shouldst thou come, a wonder 'twere to me, I'd bow me down and plead: I love but thee. And shouldst, in meeting, thou one glance bestow, 'Twould be my life's reward on earth below. But shouldst thou cast a cold look down on me, I'd shrink not from thy gaze: I love but thee! If from thy glorious eyes one smile I won, 'Twere as the sunlight bidding night begone! I'd press thy beating heart to mine with glee, And whisper in thine ear: I love but thee.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "Longing", first published 1897 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Sehnsucht", appears in Haidegänger
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-10-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 141