Songs

Ihr schwarzen Augen

by Johannes Brahms From Neue Liebeslieder (1874) Op. 65

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Text & Translation

Ihr schwarzen Augen
German source: Georg Friedrich Daumer

Ihr schwarzen Augen, ihr dürft nur winken;
Paläste fallen und Städte sinken.
Wie sollte steh'n in solchem Strauß
mein Herz, von Karten das schwache Haus?

With your dark eyes
English translation © Richard Stokes

With your dark eyes
a mere gaze is needed –
palaces will fall
and cities sink.
How in such a skirmish
should my heart,
that frail house of cards,
stay standing?

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

Ihr schwarzen Augen
German source: Georg Friedrich Daumer

With your dark eyes
English source: Richard Stokes

Ihr schwarzen Augen, ihr dürft nur winken;
With your dark eyes
Paläste fallen und Städte sinken.
a mere gaze is needed –
Wie sollte steh'n in solchem Strauß
palaces will fall
mein Herz, von Karten das schwache Haus?
and cities sink.

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

Georg Friedrich Daumer

Georg Friedrich Daumer was a German poet and philosopher.

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