Songs

In der Ferne

by Franz Schubert From Schwanengesang (1828) D957

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Text & Translation

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In der Ferne
German source: Rellstab, Ludwig

Wehe dem Fliehenden
Welt hinaus ziehenden! –
Fremde durchmessenden,
Heimat vergessenden,
Mutterhaus hassenden,
Freunde verlassenden
Folget kein Segen, ach!
Auf ihren Wegen nach!

Herze, das sehnende,
Auge, das tränende,
Sehnsucht, nie endende,
Heimwärts sich wendende!
Busen, der wallende,
Klage, verhallende,
Abendstern, blinkender,
Hoffnungslos sinkender!

Lüfte, ihr säuselnden,
Wellen sanft kräuselnden,
Sonnenstrahl, eilender,
Nirgend verweilender:
Die mir mit Schmerze, ach!
Dies treue Herze brach –
Grüsst von dem Fliehenden
Welt hinaus ziehenden!

Far away
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Woe to those who flee,
who journey forth into the world,
who travel through strange lands,
forgetting their native land,
spurning their mother’s home,
forsaking their friends:
alas, no blessing follows them
on their way!

The yearning heart,
the tearful eye,
endless longing
turning homewards!
The surging breast,
the dying lament,
the evening star, twinkling
and sinking without hope!

Whispering breezes,
gently ruffled waves,
darting sunbeams,
lingering nowhere:
send her, who broke
my faithful heart with pain,
greetings from one who is fleeing
and journeying forth into the world!

Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

In der Ferne
German source: Rellstab, Ludwig

Far away
English source: Richard Wigmore

Wehe dem Fliehenden
Woe to those who flee,
Welt hinaus ziehenden! –
who journey forth into the world,
Fremde durchmessenden,
who travel through strange lands,
Heimat vergessenden,
forgetting their native land,
Mutterhaus hassenden,
spurning their mother’s home,
Freunde verlassenden
forsaking their friends:
Folget kein Segen, ach!
alas, no blessing follows them
Auf ihren Wegen nach!
on their way!

Herze, das sehnende,
The yearning heart,
Auge, das tränende,
the tearful eye,
Sehnsucht, nie endende,
endless longing
Heimwärts sich wendende!
turning homewards!
Busen, der wallende,
The surging breast,
Klage, verhallende,
the dying lament,
Abendstern, blinkender,
the evening star, twinkling
Hoffnungslos sinkender!
and sinking without hope!

Lüfte, ihr säuselnden,
Whispering breezes,
Wellen sanft kräuselnden,
gently ruffled waves,
Sonnenstrahl, eilender,
darting sunbeams,
Nirgend verweilender:
lingering nowhere:
Die mir mit Schmerze, ach!
send her, who broke
Dies treue Herze brach –
my faithful heart with pain,
Grüsst von dem Fliehenden
greetings from one who is fleeing
Welt hinaus ziehenden!
and journeying forth into the world!

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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