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by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890)
Translation © by Paul Hindemith
Hüll' ein mich in die grünen Decken
Language: German (Deutsch)
Hüll' ein mich in die grünen Decken, Mit deinem Säuseln [sing']1 mich ein, Bei guter Zeit magst du mich wecken Mit deines Tages jungem Schein! Ich hab' mich müd' in dir ergangen, Mein Aug' ist matt von deiner Pracht; Nun ist mein einziges Verlangen, Im Traum zu ruh'n, in deiner Nacht. Des [Kinderauges]2 freudig Leuchten Schon fingest du mit Blumen ein, Und wollte junger Gram es feuchten, Du scheuchtest ihn mit buntem Schein. Ob wildes Hassen, maßlos Lieben Mich zeither auch gefangen nahm: Doch immer bin ich Kind geblieben, Wenn ich zu dir in's Freie kam! Geliebte, die mit ew'ger Treue Und ew'ger Jugend mich erquickt, Du einz'ge Lust, die ohne Reue Und ohne Nachweh mich entzückt - Sollt' ich dir jemals untreu werden, Dich kalt vergessen, ohne Dank, Dann ist mein Fall genaht auf Erden, Mein Herz verdorben oder krank! O steh' mir immerdar im Rücken, [Lieg']3 ich im Feld mit meiner Zeit! Mit deinen warmen Mutterblicken Ruh' auf mir auch im schärfsten Streit! Und sollte mich [das Ende]4 finden, Schnell decke mich mit Rasen zu; O selig Sterben und Verschwinden [In deiner stillen Herbergsruh!]5
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Keller's 1846 version and Baumgartner: "lull'"
2 Keller's 1846 version: "Kindesauges"
3 Keller's 1846 version: "Bin"
4 Keller's 1846 version and Baumgartner: "mein Stündlein"
5 Keller's 1846 version and Baumgartner: "Zu neuen Kampf nach kurzer Ruh'!"
Text Authorship:
- by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Abendlied an die Natur", written 1846, appears in Buch der Natur [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 Wilhelm Baumgartner (1820 - 1867), "An die Natur", op. 4 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1887 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Zürich, Fries [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Adolf Reichel (1820 - 1896), "Abendlied (An die Natur)", op. 22 (Vier Lieder für fünfstimmigen gemischten Stimme) no. 1, published 1883 [ chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Abendlied an die Natur", op. 55 no. 6 (1941-3) [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], from Unter Sternen: Lieder und Gesänge nach Gedichten von Gottfried Keller, no. 6, Wien: Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Paul Hindemith) , "Nocturne to Nature", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Caroline Diehl
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 190
Nocturne to Nature
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Wrap me up in green blankets, With your rustling, sing me to sleep; May you wake me with good times With your new day's brand new light! I have come to you with tiredness, My eyes are blurred with your splendor; Now, it is my only wish To rest, dreaming, in your night. Joyful lights of the eyes of children You already capture with flowers And should childish grief want to dampen it with tears, You flush him with tinted light. If wild hatred, immoderate love Ever captivated me before, I always remained a child When I came freely to you. Beloved one, who with endless truth And endless youth refreshes me, You singular happiness, that without repentance And without regret enraptures me - Should I ever become untrue to you, Coldly forget you, without thanks, Then I am base, brought low, My heart corrupt or sick. O stay evermore against my back, I will lie in the field in my time! With your warm motherly looks Also rest on me in harshest strife. And should finality find me, Quickly cover me with grass; O to die and to vanish blessed In your hostel's still rest.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2002 by Paul Hindemith, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Abendlied an die Natur", written 1846, appears in Buch der Natur
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 195