Text & Translation
Danksagung an den Bach
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
Mein rauschender Freund,
Dein Singen, dein Klingen,
War es also gemeint?
„Zur Müllerin hin!“
So lautet der Sinn.
Gelt, hab’ ich’s verstanden?
„Zur Müllerin hin!“
Hat sie dich geschickt?
Oder hast mich berückt?
Das möcht’ ich noch wissen,
Ob sie dich geschickt.
Nun wie’s auch mag sein,
Ich gebe mich drein:
Was ich such’, hab’ ich funden,
Wie’s immer mag sein.
Nach Arbeit ich frug,
Nun hab’ ich genug,
Für die Hände, für’s Herze
Vollauf genug!
Thanksgiving to the brook
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
my babbling friend?
Your singing, your murmuring –
is this what you meant?
‘To the maid of the mill!’
This is your meaning;
have I understood you?
‘To the maid of the mill!’
Did she send you,
or have you entranced me?
I should like to know this, too:
did she send you?
However it may be,
I yield to my fate:
what I sought I have found,
however it may be.
I asked for work;
now I have enough
for hands and heart;
enough, and more besides.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Danksagung an den Bach
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
Thanksgiving to the brook
English source:
Richard Wigmore
War es also gemeint,
Is this what you meant,
Mein rauschender Freund,
my babbling friend?
Dein Singen, dein Klingen,
Your singing, your murmuring –
War es also gemeint?
is this what you meant?
„Zur Müllerin hin!“
‘To the maid of the mill!’
So lautet der Sinn.
This is your meaning;
Gelt, hab’ ich’s verstanden?
have I understood you?
„Zur Müllerin hin!“
‘To the maid of the mill!’
Hat sie dich geschickt?
Did she send you,
Oder hast mich berückt?
or have you entranced me?
Das möcht’ ich noch wissen,
I should like to know this, too:
Ob sie dich geschickt.
did she send you?
Nun wie’s auch mag sein,
However it may be,
Ich gebe mich drein:
I yield to my fate:
Was ich such’, hab’ ich funden,
what I sought I have found,
Wie’s immer mag sein.
however it may be.
Nach Arbeit ich frug,
I asked for work;
Nun hab’ ich genug,
now I have enough
Für die Hände, für’s Herze
for hands and heart;
Vollauf genug!
enough, and more besides.
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
Wilhelm Müller
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…