by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Hoch auf dem alten Thurme steht
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT DUT ENG FRE
Hoch auf dem alten Thurme steht
Des Helden edler Geist,
Der, wie das Schiff vorübergeht,
Es wohl zu [fahren]1 heißt.

"Sieh, diese [Senne]2 war so stark,
Dieß Herz so fest und wild,
Die Knochen voll von Rittermark,
Der Becher angefüllt;

"Mein halbes Leben stürmt' ich fort,
Verdehnt' die Hälft' in Ruh,
Und du, du Menschen-Schifflein dort,
Fahr' immer, immer zu!"

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 106, and with Goethe's Schriften, Achter Band, Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, page 149.

1 Reichardt: "führen"
2 outdated for "Sehne"

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) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Groet van de geest", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Ghost-Greetings", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Salut d'un fantôme", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this text: 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: 60

Ghost‑Greetings
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 High up on the ancient tower stands
 The hero's noble ghost,
 Which, whenever a boat passes by,
 Bids it a fair journey.

 "Behold, this muscle was once strong, 
 This heart so firm and savage,
 These bones full of a Knight's marrow,
 The cup overflowing;

 "Half my life I stormed forth,
 I spent the other half in peace;
 And you, you little man-made boat,
 Journey ever, ever forth!"

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 -- https://www.lieder.net/

    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: 68