Songs
A les je tichý kolem kol (The forest is quiet all around)
by Antonín Dvořák From Cigánské Melodie (Gypsy Songs) (1880) Op. 55
Text & Translation
A les je tichý kolem kol (The forest is quiet all around)
Czech source:
Adolf Heyduk
jen srdce mír ten ruší,
a černý kouř, jenž spěchá v dol,
mé slze v lících, mé slze suší.
Však nemusí jich usušit,
necht' v jiné tváře bije.
Kdo v smutku může zazpívat,
ten nezhynul, ten žije, ten žije!
All around the woods are so still and silent
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
My heart beats so fearfully;
The black smoke sinks ever deeper
And dries the tears on my cheek.
Ah, my tears do not dry,
You must seek out other cheeks!
He who can praise his pain in song,
Will not curse death.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
A les je tichý kolem kol (The forest is quiet all around)
Czech source:
Adolf Heyduk
All around the woods are so still and silent
English source:
Richard Stokes
A les je tichý kolem kol,
All around the woods are so still and silent,
jen srdce mír ten ruší,
My heart beats so fearfully;
a černý kouř, jenž spěchá v dol,
The black smoke sinks ever deeper
mé slze v lících, mé slze suší.
And dries the tears on my cheek.
Však nemusí jich usušit,
Ah, my tears do not dry,
necht' v jiné tváře bije.
You must seek out other cheeks!
Kdo v smutku může zazpívat,
He who can praise his pain in song,
ten nezhynul, ten žije, ten žije!
Will not curse death.
Composer
Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák (8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Read his full…
