Songs

Herbst

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

Herbst
German source: Rellstab, Ludwig

Es rauschen die Winde
So herbstlich und kalt;
Verödet die Fluren,
Entblättert der Wald.
Ihr blumigen Auen!
Du sonniges Grün!
So welken die Blüten
Des Lebens dahin.

Es ziehen die Wolken
So finster und grau;
Verschwunden die Sterne
Am himmlischen Blau!
Ach, wie die Gestirne
Am Himmel entflieh’n,
So sinket die Hoffnung
Des Lebens dahin!

Ihr Tage des Lenzes
Mit Rosen geschmückt,
Wo ich die Geliebte
An’s Herze gedrückt!
Kalt über den Hügel
Rauscht, Winde, dahin!
So sterben die Rosen
Der Liebe dahin!

Autumn
English translation © Richard Wigmore

The wind blows
with an autumnal chill;
the meadows are bare,
the woods leafless.
Flowering meadows;
sunlit green!
Thus do life’s blossoms
wilt.

The clouds drift by,
so sombre and grey;
the stars have vanished
in the blue heavens.
Ah, as the stars disappear
in the sky,
so does life’s hope
fade away.

You days of spring,
adorned with roses,
when I pressed
my beloved to my heart.
Winds, blow cold
over the hillside!
So do the roses
of love die.

Herbst
German source: Rellstab, Ludwig

Autumn
English source: Richard Wigmore

Es rauschen die Winde
The wind blows
So herbstlich und kalt;
with an autumnal chill;
Verödet die Fluren,
the meadows are bare,
Entblättert der Wald.
the woods leafless.
Ihr blumigen Auen!
Flowering meadows;
Du sonniges Grün!
sunlit green!
So welken die Blüten
Thus do life’s blossoms
Des Lebens dahin.
wilt.

Es ziehen die Wolken
The clouds drift by,
So finster und grau;
so sombre and grey;
Verschwunden die Sterne
the stars have vanished
Am himmlischen Blau!
in the blue heavens.
Ach, wie die Gestirne
Ah, as the stars disappear
Am Himmel entflieh’n,
in the sky,
So sinket die Hoffnung
so does life’s hope
Des Lebens dahin!
fade away.

Ihr Tage des Lenzes
You days of spring,
Mit Rosen geschmückt,
adorned with roses,
Wo ich die Geliebte
when I pressed
An’s Herze gedrückt!
my beloved to my heart.
Kalt über den Hügel
Winds, blow cold
Rauscht, Winde, dahin!
over the hillside!
So sterben die Rosen
So do the roses
Der Liebe dahin!
of love die.

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

Rellstab, Ludwig

Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig Rellstab was a German poet and music critic. He was born and died in Berlin. He was the son of the music publisher and composer Johann Carl Friedrich Rellstab. An able pianist, he published articles in various periodicals,…

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