Songs

Der Strom

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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Der Strom
German source: Anon.

Mein Leben wälzt sich murrend fort,
Es steigt und fällt in krausen Wogen,
Hier bäumt es sich, jagt nieder dort
In wilde Zügen, hohen Bogen.

Das stille Tal, das grüne Feld
Durchrauscht es nun mit leisem Beben,
Sich Ruh’ ersehnend, ruhige Welt,
Ergötzt es sich am ruhigen Leben.

Doch nimmer findend, was es sucht,
Und immer sehnend tost es weiter,
Unmutig rollt’s auf steter Flucht,
Wird nimmer froh, wird nimmer heiter.

The River
English translation © Richard Wigmore

My life rolls grumbling onwards,
rising and falling in curling waves;
here it rears up, there it plunges down,
with wild spurts and soaring curves.

Now, gently quivering, it ripples through
silent valleys and green fields,
yearning for peace, a tranquil world,
and delighting in a life of calm.

Yet never finding what it seeks,
forever longing, it surges onwards;
discontented, it rolls on in ceaseless flight,
never joyful, never serene.

Der Strom
German source: Anon.

The River
English source: Richard Wigmore

Mein Leben wälzt sich murrend fort,
My life rolls grumbling onwards,
Es steigt und fällt in krausen Wogen,
rising and falling in curling waves;
Hier bäumt es sich, jagt nieder dort
here it rears up, there it plunges down,
In wilde Zügen, hohen Bogen.
with wild spurts and soaring curves.

Das stille Tal, das grüne Feld
Now, gently quivering, it ripples through
Durchrauscht es nun mit leisem Beben,
silent valleys and green fields,
Sich Ruh’ ersehnend, ruhige Welt,
yearning for peace, a tranquil world,
Ergötzt es sich am ruhigen Leben.
and delighting in a life of calm.

Doch nimmer findend, was es sucht,
Yet never finding what it seeks,
Und immer sehnend tost es weiter,
forever longing, it surges onwards;
Unmutig rollt’s auf steter Flucht,
discontented, it rolls on in ceaseless flight,
Wird nimmer froh, wird nimmer heiter.
never joyful, never serene.

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

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