by
Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Ich habe geklopft an des Reichtums Haus
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: CAT ENG FRE
Ich habe geklopft an des Reichtums Haus;
Man reicht mir 'nen Pfennig zum Fenster heraus.
Ich habe geklopft an der Liebe Thür;
Da standen schon fünfzehn Andre dafür.
Ich klopfte leis' an der Ehre Schloß;
"Hier thut man nur auf dem Ritter zu Roß."
Ich habe gesucht der Arbeit Dach;
Da hört' ich drinnen nur Weh und Ach!
Ich suchte das Haus der Zufriedenheit;
Es kannt' es niemand weit und breit.
Nun weiß ich noch ein Häuslein still,
Wo ich zuletzt anklopfen will.
Zwar wohnt darin schon macher Gast,
Doch ist für Viele im Grab noch Rast.
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- by A. M. Caspary , "Vor den Thüren", published 1877 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Königsberg, Jakubowski [sung text not yet checked]
- by F. C. (Ferdinand Carl) Füchs (1811 - 1848), "Vor den Thüren", op. 24, published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Göpel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theodor Podbertsky (1846 - 1913), "Vor den Türen", op. 184, published 1906-1913, Leipzig, Kahnt Nachfolger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Vor den Türen", AV. 123 no. 1 (1935) [ men's chorus a cappella ], from Drei Männerchöre nach Gedichten von Friedrich Rückert, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Vor den Thüren", op. 96 (Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, O. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Before various doors", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Devant les portes", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Martin Jahn
This text was added to the website: 2012-06-20
Line count: 14
Word count: 97
Before various doors
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I knocked at the house of wealth;
I was handed a penny through the window.
I knocked on the door of love;
There were already fifteen others in line ahead of me.
I knocked softly at the castle of honour;
"Here we open only to knights on horseback."
I looked for the house that sheltered labour;
Within I heard only cries of lamentation!
I searched for the house of contentment;
No one far and wide knew of it.
Now I still know of a quiet little house
At which I shall finally knock.
To be sure, many a guest is already abiding therein,
But in the grave there is still a resting place for many.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2013-06-24
Line count: 14
Word count: 115