Homesickness | What is it that stops my breath

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by Friederike Robert (1795 - 1832)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Das Heimweh

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Was ist's, das mir den Atem hemmet,
Und selbst den Seufzer unterdrückt?
Das stets in jeden Weg sich stemmet,
Und Sinn und Geist mir so verrückt?
Es ist das Heimweh! O Schmerzenslaut!
O Schmerzenslaut, wie klingst im Innern mir vertraut!

Was ist's, das mir den Willen raubet,
Zu jeder Tat mich mutlos macht?
Das mir die Flur, so grün belaubet,
Verwandelt in Gefängnissnacht?
Es ist das Heimweh! O Jammerton!
O Jammerton, wie lange tönst im Herzen schon!

Was ist's, das mich erstarrt und brennet,
Und jede Freud' und Lust vergällt?
Giebt es kein Wort, das dieses nennet,
Giebt es kein Wort in dieser Welt?
Es ist das Heimweh! O herbes Weh!
O herbes Weh! Die Heimat, ach! ich nimmer seh'.

Text Authorship:

by Friederike Robert (1795 - 1832) [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):

misattributed to Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) and by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Das Heimweh", op. 8 (Zwölf Gesänge [note: this is Felix Mendelssohn's opus, in which three songs were composed by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel]) no. 2 [ voice and piano ], note: this was first published under Felix Mendelssohn's name [sung text checked 1 time]

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L'enyorança", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Het heimwee", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Homesickness", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le mal du pays", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 120

Homesickness

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

What is it that stops my breath,
And even represses the sigh?
That insinuates itself into every pathway,
And so disturbs my mind and spirit?
It is homesickness!  Oh cry of pain!
Oh cry of pain, how familiar you sound within my innermost being!

What it is that robs me of my will,
Makes me discouraged about every task?
That transforms the meadow, so green and leafy,
Into a night of imprisonment?
It is homesickness!  Oh sound of lamentation!
Oh sound of lamentation, how long you have already been ringing in my heart!

What is it that makes me freeze and burn,
And turns every joy and passion to gall?
Is there no word that describes it,
Is there no word in this world?
It is homesickness!  Oh bitter pain!
Oh bitter pain!  My home, ah! I shall never see you again!

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:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friederike Robert (1795 - 1832)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2013-09-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 142