Sound softly, my song | Sound softly, my song, through the silence of night

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by Johann Rumpelmeyer (1820 - 1887)

Translation © by David Paley

Kling leise, mein Lied

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht,
Kling leise, daß nicht die Geliebt' erwacht!
Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf,
Kling leise, mein Lied, und wecke sie nicht auf!

Ihr Schlummer ist heilig und heilig ihr Traum,
Du küsse nur leicht des Gewandes Saum,
Das lüstern um ihre Glieder sich schmiegt,
Verhüllend den Busen, der stürmisch sich wiegt.

Ach! Ihr Schlummer ist heilig, o wecke sie nicht!
Und heilig ihr Traum, o schrecke sie nicht
Mit einem Gebilde, das traurig und wild!
Kling leise, mein Lied, sing leise und mild!

Umschlinge sie sanft, wie die Ranke den Baum
In Liebe umschlingt mit dem Blütentraum,
Und singe verzückt, wie die Nachtigall singt,
Die der Rose ein klingendes Ständchen bringt.

Erwecke sie nicht mit zu stürmischem Gruß,
Tritt behutsam nur auf, wie des Pilgers Fuß
Hin durch den heiligen Tempel geht,
Still klinge dein Gruß, wie ein leises Gebet!¹

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• F. Liszt

View original text (without footnotes)

Note: some lines of this poem were used in Zanettovich's Lied (mond - nacht - liebes - traum - lied)

¹ Liszt adds

Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht,
Kling leise, daß nicht die Geliebt' erwacht!
Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf,
Kling leise, mein Lied,
Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf,
Leise und mild,
Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht!
Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht!
O, wecke sie nicht!

Text Authorship:

by Johann Rumpelmeyer (1820 - 1887) [author's text not yet checked 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 Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886), "Kling leise, mein Lied", S. 301 no. 1 (1848), published 1860 [ voice and piano ], first version [sung text checked 1 time]

Set in a modified version by Franz Liszt.

Go to the text. [ view differences ] ENG

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

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-12-31
Line count: 20
Word count: 148

Sound softly, my song

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Sound softly, my song, through the silence of night, 
Sound softly or else my beloved will wake.
Carefully, up to her windows arise 
Sound softly, my song, or repose will awake. 

As slumber is sacred and sacred her dream,
Drop kisses so light on her garment hem 
That nestles around her wrapping her limbs
And clings to her bosom that rises and falls. 

Her slumber is sacred, awaken her not 
And sacred her dream, O, frighten her not  
With such an appearance both saddened and wild. 
Sound softly, my song, sing softly and mild. 

Embrace her as soft as the climbers round trees
That lovers entwine in blossoming dreams; 
And sing with delight as the nightingales sing
When to roses a serenade they would bring. 

Awaken her not with too stormy salute. 
Step carefully to her as if pilgrims feet
Tread through the holiest temple there, 
And quietly greet with the murmur of prayer.

Text Authorship:

Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Paley. Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com

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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Rumpelmeyer (1820 - 1887)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2011-02-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 154