An die Freunde
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Ganz stille, ohne Kreuz und Stein:
Denn was ihr türmet, überschneid
Und überwindet Winterszeit.
Und wann die Erde sich verjüngt
Und Blumen meinem Hügel bringt,
Das freut euch, Guten, freuet euch!
Dies alles ist dem Toten gleich.
Doch nein, denn eure Liebe spannt
Die Äste in das Geisterland,
Und die euch führt zu meinem Grab,
Zieht mich gewaltiger herab.
To my friends
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
silently, without cross or stone;
for whatever you raise up
winter storms will cover with snow.
And when the earth grows young again,
bringing flowers to my grave,
rejoice, good friends, rejoice;
all this is nothing to the dead.
But no, for your love extends
its branches into the land of spirits,
and as it leads you to my grave,
it draws me more forcefully downwards.
An die Freunde
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
To my friends
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Im Wald, im Wald da grabt mich ein,
Bury me in the forest,
Ganz stille, ohne Kreuz und Stein:
silently, without cross or stone;
Denn was ihr türmet, überschneid
for whatever you raise up
Und überwindet Winterszeit.
winter storms will cover with snow.
Und wann die Erde sich verjüngt
And when the earth grows young again,
Und Blumen meinem Hügel bringt,
bringing flowers to my grave,
Das freut euch, Guten, freuet euch!
rejoice, good friends, rejoice;
Dies alles ist dem Toten gleich.
all this is nothing to the dead.
Doch nein, denn eure Liebe spannt
But no, for your love extends
Die Äste in das Geisterland,
its branches into the land of spirits,
Und die euch führt zu meinem Grab,
and as it leads you to my grave,
Zieht mich gewaltiger herab.
it draws me more forcefully downwards.
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…