Text & Translation
Herbsten
German source:
Paul Wertheimer
Grelle Blätter, windgewiegt,
Jäh von tollem Sturm besiegt,
Tanzen müd im Todesreigen.
Und die Wünsche, die aus herben
Wurzeln an das Licht geblüht,
Sinken klagend, sinken müd
In das große, große Sterben.
Signs of autumn
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Garish, wind-tossed leaves
Suddenly conquered by a raging storm,
Wearily perform the dance of death.
And those desires that blossomed
From bitter roots towards the light,
Sink and lament, sink wearily
Into the great great expiring.
Herbsten
German source:
Paul Wertheimer
Signs of autumn
English source:
Richard Stokes
Klagend weint es in den Zweigen,
The boughs lament and weep,
Grelle Blätter, windgewiegt,
Garish, wind-tossed leaves
Jäh von tollem Sturm besiegt,
Suddenly conquered by a raging storm,
Tanzen müd im Todesreigen.
Wearily perform the dance of death.
And those desires that blossomed
Und die Wünsche, die aus herben
From bitter roots towards the light,
Wurzeln an das Licht geblüht,
Sink and lament, sink wearily
Sinken klagend, sinken müd
Into the great great expiring.
In das große, große Sterben.
Composer
Alexander von Zemlinsky
Alexander Zemlinsky or Alexander von Zemlinsky was an Austrian composer, conductor, and teacher. Read more here.
