Songs

Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht

by Johannes Brahms From Zigeunerlieder, 'Gypsy Songs' (ensemble version) (1887) Op. 103

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Text & Translation

Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht
German source: Hugo Conrat

Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht;
Süßes Lieb, wir müssen scheiden: gute Nacht.
Ach wie gern in deinen Armen ruhte ich,
Doch die Trennungsstunde naht, Gott schütze dich.

Dunkel ist die Nacht, kein Sternlein spendet Licht;
Süßes Lieb, vertrau auf Gott und weine nicht;
Führt der liebe Gott mich einst zu dir zurück,
Bleiben ewig wir vereint in Liebesglück.

Hark! the wind grieves softly and sadly in the boughs
English translation © Richard Stokes

Hark! the wind grieves softly and sadly in the boughs;
My sweet, we must part: good night.
Ah, how I loved to rest in your arms,
But the hour of parting draws near, may God protect you.
The night is dark, no tiny star sheds its light;
My sweet, trust in God and do not weep;
Dear God will one day bring you back to me,
And we shall be united for ever in rapturous love.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht
German source: Hugo Conrat

Hark! the wind grieves softly and sadly in the boughs
English source: Richard Stokes

Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen traurig sacht;
Hark! the wind grieves softly and sadly in the boughs;
Süßes Lieb, wir müssen scheiden: gute Nacht.
My sweet, we must part: good night.
Ach wie gern in deinen Armen ruhte ich,
Ah, how I loved to rest in your arms,
Doch die Trennungsstunde naht, Gott schütze dich.
But the hour of parting draws near, may God protect you.

Dunkel ist die Nacht, kein Sternlein spendet Licht;
Süßes Lieb, vertrau auf Gott und weine nicht;
Führt der liebe Gott mich einst zu dir zurück,
Bleiben ewig wir vereint in Liebesglück.

Composer

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna.  Brahms has been considered, by his…

Poet

Hugo Conrat

Hugo Conrat is most known for his German adaptations of the Hungarian folksongs in Zigeunerlieder (Brahms).  He was a member of Brahms' circle in Vienna.

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