Songs

Der Friedensbote

by Erich Korngold

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Text & Translation

Der Friedensbote
German source: Joseph von Eichendorff

Schlaf ein, mein Liebchen, schlaf ein,
Leis durch die Blumen am Gitter
Säuselt des Laubes Gezitter,
Rauschen die Quellen herein;
Gesenkt auf den schneeweißen Arm,
Schlaf ein, mein Liebchen, schlaf ein,
Wie atmest du lieblich und warm!

Aus dem Kriege kommen wir heim;
In stürmischer Nacht und Regen,
Wenn ich auf der Lauer gelegen,
Wie dachte ich dorten dein!
Gott stand in der Not uns bei,
Nun droben bei Mondenschein,
Schlaf ruhig, das Land ist ja frei!

The messenger of peace
English translation © Richard Stokes

Sleep, my darling, sleep,
Softly through the trellised flowers
The trembling leaves rustle,
The fountains murmur;
Leaning on your snow-white arm,
Sleep, my darling, sleep.
Your breath is so warm and sweet!

We come home from the war;
On stormy, rain-swept nights,
When I stood watch,
How I thought of you!
God stood by us in our need,
Sleep now in the moonlight,
Sleep in peace, for our country is free!

Der Friedensbote
German source: Joseph von Eichendorff

The messenger of peace
English source: Richard Stokes

Schlaf ein, mein Liebchen, schlaf ein,
Sleep, my darling, sleep,
Leis durch die Blumen am Gitter
Softly through the trellised flowers
Säuselt des Laubes Gezitter,
The trembling leaves rustle,
Rauschen die Quellen herein;
The fountains murmur;
Gesenkt auf den schneeweißen Arm,
Leaning on your snow-white arm,
Schlaf ein, mein Liebchen, schlaf ein,
Sleep, my darling, sleep.
Wie atmest du lieblich und warm!
Your breath is so warm and sweet!

Aus dem Kriege kommen wir heim;
We come home from the war;
In stürmischer Nacht und Regen,
On stormy, rain-swept nights,
Wenn ich auf der Lauer gelegen,
When I stood watch,
Wie dachte ich dorten dein!
How I thought of you!
Gott stand in der Not uns bei,
God stood by us in our need,
Nun droben bei Mondenschein,
Sleep now in the moonlight,
Schlaf ruhig, das Land ist ja frei!
Sleep in peace, for our country is free!

Composer

Erich Korngold

Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austrian-born composer and conductor, and a notable figure in the history of Hollywood as a composer for films. Read more here.

Poet

Joseph von Eichendorff

Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff was a German poet, novelist, playwright, literary critic, translator, and anthologist. Eichendorff was one of the major writers and critics of Romanticism. Ever since their publication and up to the present day, some…

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