Songs
Erstes Grün
by Robert Schumann From Zwölf Gedichte von Justinus Kerner (1840) Op. 35 20–25.xi & 6–29.xii.1840
Erstes Grün
German source:
Justinus Kerner
Wie manches Herz durch dich genas,
Das von des Winters Schnee erkrankt,
O wie mein Herz nach dir verlangt!
Schon wächst du aus der Erde Nacht,
Wie dir mein Aug’ entgegen lacht!
Hier in des Waldes stillem Grund
Drück ich dich, Grün, an Herz und Mund.
Wie treibt’s mich von den Menschen fort!
Mein Leid das hebt kein Menschenwort,
Nur junges Grün, ans Herz gelegt
Macht, dass mein Herze stiller schlägt.
First Green
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
How many a heart you have healed
That fell ill from winter’s snow,
How great my heart’s desire for you!
Already from earth’s night you grow,
How my eye laughs to greet you!
Here, in the forest’s silent depths,
You, green, I press to heart, to lips.
How great my urge to quit humankind!
No human word will lift my grief,
Only green grass, put to my heart,
Will make my heart beat calmer.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Erstes Grün
German source:
Justinus Kerner
First Green
English source:
Richard Stokes
Du junges Grün, du frisches Gras!
Young green, fresh grass,
Wie manches Herz durch dich genas,
How many a heart you have healed
Das von des Winters Schnee erkrankt,
That fell ill from winter’s snow,
O wie mein Herz nach dir verlangt!
How great my heart’s desire for you!
Schon wächst du aus der Erde Nacht,
Already from earth’s night you grow,
Wie dir mein Aug’ entgegen lacht!
How my eye laughs to greet you!
Hier in des Waldes stillem Grund
Here, in the forest’s silent depths,
Drück ich dich, Grün, an Herz und Mund.
You, green, I press to heart, to lips.
Wie treibt’s mich von den Menschen fort!
How great my urge to quit humankind!
Mein Leid das hebt kein Menschenwort,
No human word will lift my grief,
Nur junges Grün, ans Herz gelegt
Only green grass, put to my heart,
Macht, dass mein Herze stiller schlägt.
Will make my heart beat calmer.
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
Justinus Kerner
Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet, practicing physician, and medical writer. He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg. After attending the classical schools of Ludwigsburg and Maulbronn, he was apprenticed in a cloth factory,…