Es treibt mich hin
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Noch wenige Stunden, dann soll ich sie schauen,
Sie selber, die schönste der schönen Jungfrauen;—
Du armes Herz, was pochst du so schwer?
Die Stunden sind aber ein faules Volk!
Schleppen sich behaglich träge,
Schleichen gähnend ihre Wege;—
Tummle dich, du faules Volk!
Tobende Eile mich treibend erfasst!
Aber wohl niemals liebten die Horen;—
Heimlich im grausamen Bunde verschworen,
Spotten sich tückisch der Liebenden Hast.
I’m driven this way
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
A few more hours, and I shall see her,
She, the fairest of the fair—
Faithful heart, why pound so hard?
But the Hours are a lazy breed!
They dawdle along and take their time,
Crawl yawningly on their way—
Get a move on, you lazy breed!
Raging haste drives me onward!
But the Horae can never have loved—
Cruelly and secretly in league,
They spitefully mock a lover’s haste.
Es treibt mich hin
German source:
Heinrich Heine
I’m driven this way
English source:
Richard Stokes
Es treibt mich hin, es treibt mich her!
I’m driven this way, driven that!
Noch wenige Stunden, dann soll ich sie schauen,
A few more hours, and I shall see her,
Sie selber, die schönste der schönen Jungfrauen;—
She, the fairest of the fair—
Du armes Herz, was pochst du so schwer?
Faithful heart, why pound so hard?
Die Stunden sind aber ein faules Volk!
But the Hours are a lazy breed!
Schleppen sich behaglich träge,
They dawdle along and take their time,
Schleichen gähnend ihre Wege;—
Crawl yawningly on their way—
Tummle dich, du faules Volk!
Get a move on, you lazy breed!
Tobende Eile mich treibend erfasst!
Raging haste drives me onward!
Aber wohl niemals liebten die Horen;—
But the Horae can never have loved—
Heimlich im grausamen Bunde verschworen,
Cruelly and secretly in league,
Spotten sich tückisch der Liebenden Hast.
They spitefully mock a lover’s haste.
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
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 26. Konstantin Krimmel: Heine, Schumann & Brahms 12 Oct 2021
- Mastercourse Concert 29 Oct 2016
- The Life & Times of Robert Schumann Session I 15 Oct 2016