Im Westen
German source:
Wilhelm Gerhard
Was helfen mir Nord und Hochlands Schnee?
Was Osten und Süd, wo die Sonne glüht,
Das ferne Land und die wilde See?
Aus Westen winkt, wo die Sonne sinkt,
Was mich im Schlummer und Traume beglückt;
Im Westen wohnt, der mir Liebe lohnt,
Mich und mein Kindlein ans Herz gedrückt!
In the West
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
What good’s the north and Highland snow to me?
What good’s the east and the sun-burning south,
The distant land and the wild sea?
From the west, where the sun sets,
Beckons all that delights me in slumber and dream:
In the west lives the man who rewards me with love,
Who pressed me and my little child to his heart!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Im Westen
German source:
Wilhelm Gerhard
In the West
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ich schau’ über Forth hinüber nach Nord:
I gaze over the Forth across to the north:
Was helfen mir Nord und Hochlands Schnee?
What good’s the north and Highland snow to me?
Was Osten und Süd, wo die Sonne glüht,
What good’s the east and the sun-burning south,
Das ferne Land und die wilde See?
The distant land and the wild sea?
Aus Westen winkt, wo die Sonne sinkt,
Was mich im Schlummer und Traume beglückt;
Im Westen wohnt, der mir Liebe lohnt,
Mich und mein Kindlein ans Herz gedrückt!
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…
