Der Schiffer
German source:
Friedrich von Schlegel
Lenke hin und her das Ruder,
Atme kühl im Licht des Mondes,
Träume süss im stillen Mute;
Gleiten lass’ ich auch den Kahn,
Schaue in die blanken Fluten,
Wo die Sterne lieblich schimmern,
Spiele wieder mit dem Ruder.
Sässe doch das blonde Mägdlein
Vor mir auf dem Bänkchen ruhend,
Sänge schmachtend zarte Lieder.
Himmlisch wär’ mir dann zu Mute.
Liess mich necken von dem Kinde,
Wieder tändelnd mit der Guten.
Friedlich lieg’ ich hingegossen,
Träume süss im stillen Mute,
Atme kühl im Licht des Mondes,
Führe hin und her das Ruder.
The Boatman
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
turning the rudder this way and that,
breathing the cool air in the moonlight,
tranquil in spirit, dreaming sweetly.
And I let the boat drift,
gazing into the shining waters
where the stars shimmer enchantingly;
and again I play with the rudder.
If only that fair-haired girl
were reclining on the seat before me,
singing tenderly soulful songs,
then I should feel blissfully happy.
I should let the child tease me
and flirt again with the girl.
Peacefully I lie stretched out,
tranquil in spirit, dreaming sweetly,
breathing the cool air in the moonlight,
moving the rudder this way and that.
Der Schiffer
German source:
Friedrich von Schlegel
The Boatman
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Friedlich lieg’ ich hingegossen,
Peacefully I lie stretched out,
Lenke hin und her das Ruder,
turning the rudder this way and that,
Atme kühl im Licht des Mondes,
breathing the cool air in the moonlight,
Träume süss im stillen Mute;
tranquil in spirit, dreaming sweetly.
Gleiten lass’ ich auch den Kahn,
And I let the boat drift,
Schaue in die blanken Fluten,
gazing into the shining waters
Wo die Sterne lieblich schimmern,
where the stars shimmer enchantingly;
Spiele wieder mit dem Ruder.
and again I play with the rudder.
Sässe doch das blonde Mägdlein
If only that fair-haired girl
Vor mir auf dem Bänkchen ruhend,
were reclining on the seat before me,
Sänge schmachtend zarte Lieder.
singing tenderly soulful songs,
Himmlisch wär’ mir dann zu Mute.
then I should feel blissfully happy.
Liess mich necken von dem Kinde,
I should let the child tease me
Wieder tändelnd mit der Guten.
and flirt again with the girl.
Friedlich lieg’ ich hingegossen,
Peacefully I lie stretched out,
Träume süss im stillen Mute,
tranquil in spirit, dreaming sweetly,
Atme kühl im Licht des Mondes,
breathing the cool air in the moonlight,
Führe hin und her das Ruder.
moving the rudder this way and that.
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
Friedrich von Schlegel
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich (after 1814: von) Schlegel was a German poet, literary critic, philosopher, philologist and indologist. With his older brother, August Wilhelm Schlegel, he was one of the main figures of the Jena romantics. He was a zealous…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Schubert in 1823: The Refiner's Fire 21 Oct 2023
- 35. Dietrich Henschel: Schubert: Songs of the Sea 13 Oct 2021