Songs

An Anna II

by Robert Schumann From 11 songs (1828) 28.ii.1827–16.viii.1828

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Text & Translation

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An Anna II
German source: Justinus Kerner

Nicht im Tale der süssen Heimat,
Beim Gemurmel der Silberquelle—
Bleich getragen aus dem Schlachtfeld
Denk’ ich dein, du süsses Leben!

All die Freunde sind gefallen,
Sollt’ ich weilen hier der eine?
Nein! schon naht der bleiche Bote,
Der mich leitet zur süssen Heimat.

To Anna II
English translation © Richard Stokes

Not in the valley of my sweet homeland,
To the murmur of the silvery spring—
But carried pale from the battlefield,
I think of you, my sweetest!

All my friends have fallen,
Am I the only one to linger here?
No! The pale messenger will soon come
To lead me to my sweet homeland.

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

An Anna II
German source: Justinus Kerner

To Anna II
English source: Richard Stokes

Nicht im Tale der süssen Heimat,
Not in the valley of my sweet homeland,
Beim Gemurmel der Silberquelle—
To the murmur of the silvery spring—
Bleich getragen aus dem Schlachtfeld
But carried pale from the battlefield,
Denk’ ich dein, du süsses Leben!
I think of you, my sweetest!

All die Freunde sind gefallen,
All my friends have fallen,
Sollt’ ich weilen hier der eine?
Am I the only one to linger here?
Nein! schon naht der bleiche Bote,
No! The pale messenger will soon come
Der mich leitet zur süssen Heimat.
To lead me to my sweet homeland.

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…

Poet

Justinus Kerner

Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet, practicing physician, and medical writer. He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg. After attending the classical schools of Ludwigsburg and Maulbronn, he was apprenticed in a cloth factory,…

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