Songs

Du Ring an meinem Finger

by Robert Schumann From Frauenliebe und -leben (1840) Op. 42 11–12.vii.1840

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Text & Translation

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Du Ring an meinem Finger
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
Mein goldenes Ringelein,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
Dich fromm an das Herze mein.

Ich hatt ihn ausgeträumet,
Der Kindheit friedlich schönen Traum,
Ich fand allein mich, verloren
Im öden, unendlichen Raum.

Du Ring an meinem Finger
Da hast du mich erst belehrt,
Hast meinem Blick erschlossen
Des Lebens unendlichen, tiefen Wert.

Ich will ihm dienen, ihm leben,
Ihm angehören ganz,
Hin selber mich geben und finden
Verklärt mich in seinem Glanz.

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
Mein goldenes Ringelein,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
Dich fromm an das Herze mein.

You ring on my finger
English translation © Richard Stokes

You ring on my finger,
My golden little ring,
I press you devoutly to my lips,
To my heart.

I had finished dreaming
Childhood’s peaceful dream,
I found myself alone, forlorn
In boundless desolation.

You ring on my finger,
You first taught me,
Opened my eyes
To life’s deep eternal worth.

I shall serve him, live for him,
Belong to him wholly,
Yield to him and find
Myself transfigured in his light.

You ring on my finger,
My golden little ring,
I press you devoutly to my lips,
To my heart.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Du Ring an meinem Finger
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

You ring on my finger
English source: Richard Stokes

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
You ring on my finger,
Mein goldenes Ringelein,
My golden little ring,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
I press you devoutly to my lips,
Dich fromm an das Herze mein.
To my heart.

Ich hatt ihn ausgeträumet,
I had finished dreaming
Der Kindheit friedlich schönen Traum,
Childhood’s peaceful dream,
Ich fand allein mich, verloren
I found myself alone, forlorn
Im öden, unendlichen Raum.
In boundless desolation.

Du Ring an meinem Finger
You ring on my finger,
Da hast du mich erst belehrt,
You first taught me,
Hast meinem Blick erschlossen
Opened my eyes
Des Lebens unendlichen, tiefen Wert.
To life’s deep eternal worth.

Ich will ihm dienen, ihm leben,
I shall serve him, live for him,
Ihm angehören ganz,
Belong to him wholly,
Hin selber mich geben und finden
Yield to him and find
Verklärt mich in seinem Glanz.
Myself transfigured in his light.

Du Ring an meinem Finger,
You ring on my finger,
Mein goldenes Ringelein,
My golden little ring,
Ich drücke dich fromm an die Lippen,
I press you devoutly to my lips,
Dich fromm an das Herze mein.
To my heart.

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

Adelbert von Chamisso

Adelbert von Chamisso was a German poet and botanist, author of Peter Schlemihl, a famous story about a man who sold his shadow. He was commonly known in French as Adelbert de Chamisso(t) de Boncourt, a name referring to the family estate at…

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