Songs
Der frohe Wandersmann
by Robert Schumann From Lieder und Gesänge, iii (1840) Op. 77 1840, 1850
Der frohe Wandersmann
German source:
Joseph von Eichendorff
Den schickt er in die weite Welt,
Dem will er seine Wunder weisen
In Berg und Wald und Strom und Feld.
Die Trägen, die zu Hause liegen,
Erquicket nicht das Morgenrot,
Sie wissen nur vom Kinderwiegen,
Von Sorgen, Last und Not um Brot.
Die Bächlein von den Bergen springen,
Die Lerchen schwirren hoch vor Lust,
Was sollt’ ich nicht mit ihnen singen
Aus voller Kehl’ und frischer Brust.
Den lieben Gott nur laß’ ich walten;
Der Bächlein, Lerchen, Wind und Feld,
Und Erd’ und Himmel will erhalten,
Hat auch mein Sach’ aufs Best’ bestellt.
The happy Wanderer
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
He sends him out into the wide world
And points out His miracles
In mountain and wood and river and field.
The indolent ones who laze at home
Are not refreshed by the dawn;
They only know about rearing children,
About cares, burdens and the need for bread.
The brooklets spring from the mountains,
The larks whirr high with pleasure;
Why should I not sing with them
With full throat and fresh spirit?
I let dear God alone prevail;
He who sustains brook, lark, wind and field,
And earth and sky,
Has also ordered my life for the best.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der frohe Wandersmann
German source:
Joseph von Eichendorff
The happy Wanderer
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wem Gott will rechte Gunst erweisen,
He whom God would show true favour,
Den schickt er in die weite Welt,
He sends him out into the wide world
Dem will er seine Wunder weisen
And points out His miracles
In Berg und Wald und Strom und Feld.
In mountain and wood and river and field.
Die Trägen, die zu Hause liegen,
The indolent ones who laze at home
Erquicket nicht das Morgenrot,
Are not refreshed by the dawn;
Sie wissen nur vom Kinderwiegen,
They only know about rearing children,
Von Sorgen, Last und Not um Brot.
About cares, burdens and the need for bread.
Die Bächlein von den Bergen springen,
The brooklets spring from the mountains,
Die Lerchen schwirren hoch vor Lust,
The larks whirr high with pleasure;
Was sollt’ ich nicht mit ihnen singen
Why should I not sing with them
Aus voller Kehl’ und frischer Brust.
With full throat and fresh spirit?
Den lieben Gott nur laß’ ich walten;
I let dear God alone prevail;
Der Bächlein, Lerchen, Wind und Feld,
He who sustains brook, lark, wind and field,
Und Erd’ und Himmel will erhalten,
And earth and sky,
Hat auch mein Sach’ aufs Best’ bestellt.
Has also ordered my life for the best.
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
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…