Songs

Abschied von Frankreich

by Robert Schumann From Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart (1852) Op. 135 xii.1852

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Text & Translation

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Abschied von Frankreich
German source: Gisbert Freiherr von Vincke

Ich zieh dahin!
Ade, mein fröhlich Frankenland,
Wo ich die liebste Heimat fand,
Du meiner Kindheit Pflegerin!
Ade, du Land, du schöne Zeit.
Mich trennt das Boot vom Glück so weit!
Doch trägt’s die Hälfte nur von mir:
Ein Teil für immer bleibet dein,
Mein fröhlich Land, der sage dir,
Des andern eingedenk zu sein!
Ade!

Farewell to France
English translation © Richard Stokes

I am going away!
Farewell, my happy France,
Where I found the loveliest homeland,
You the guardian of my childhood!
Farewell, O land, O happy time,
The ship bears me far away from joy!
Yet it takes but half of me:
One part will be for ever yours,
My happy land, recalling to you
The memory of that other self!
Farewell!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Abschied von Frankreich
German source: Gisbert Freiherr von Vincke

Farewell to France
English source: Richard Stokes

Ich zieh dahin!
I am going away!
Ade, mein fröhlich Frankenland,
Farewell, my happy France,
Wo ich die liebste Heimat fand,
Where I found the loveliest homeland,
Du meiner Kindheit Pflegerin!
You the guardian of my childhood!
Ade, du Land, du schöne Zeit.
Farewell, O land, O happy time,
Mich trennt das Boot vom Glück so weit!
The ship bears me far away from joy!
Doch trägt’s die Hälfte nur von mir:
Yet it takes but half of me:
Ein Teil für immer bleibet dein,
One part will be for ever yours,
Mein fröhlich Land, der sage dir,
My happy land, recalling to you
Des andern eingedenk zu sein!
The memory of that other self!
Ade!
Farewell!

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

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