Songs

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus!

by Gustav Mahler From Kindertotenlieder (1901) 1901-1904

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Text & Translation

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus!
German source: Friedrich Rückert

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
Nie hätt’ ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
Man hat sie hinaus getragen,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus,
Nie hätt’ ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus,
Ich fürchtete sie erkranken;
Das sind nun eitle Gedanken.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus,
Nie hätt’ ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus;
Ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen,
Das ist nun nicht zu besorgen.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
Nie hätt’ ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
Man hat sie hinaus getragen,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus,
Sie ruh’n als wie in der Mutter Haus,
Von keinem Sturm erschrecket,
Von Gottes Hand bedecket.
Sie ruh’n wie in der Mutter Haus!

In this weather, this raging storm,
English translation © Richard Stokes

In this weather, this raging storm,
I’d never have let the children out;
But they were carried from the house,
I had no say in the matter.

In this weather, this howling gale,
I’d never have let the children out,
I feared that they would fall ill;
These are now but idle thoughts.

In this weather, this dreadful blast,
I’d never have let the children out.
I feared they might die next day,
There is no cause for such fears now.

In this weather, this raging storm,
I’d never have let the children out;
But they were carried from the house,
I had no say in the matter.

In this weather, this howling gale, this raging storm,
They rest, as if in their mother’s house.
Frightened by no storm,
Protected by God’s hand,
They rest, as if in their mother’s house!

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

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus!
German source: Friedrich Rückert

In this weather, this raging storm,
English source: Richard Stokes

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
In this weather, this raging storm,
Nie hätt’ ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
I’d never have let the children out;
Man hat sie hinaus getragen,
But they were carried from the house,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen.
I had no say in the matter.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus,
In this weather, this howling gale,
Nie hätt’ ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus,
I’d never have let the children out,
Ich fürchtete sie erkranken;
I feared that they would fall ill;
Das sind nun eitle Gedanken.
These are now but idle thoughts.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus,
In this weather, this dreadful blast,
Nie hätt’ ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus;
I’d never have let the children out.
Ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen,
I feared they might die next day,
Das ist nun nicht zu besorgen.
There is no cause for such fears now.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
In this weather, this raging storm,
Nie hätt’ ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
I’d never have let the children out;
Man hat sie hinaus getragen,
But they were carried from the house,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen.
I had no say in the matter.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus,
In this weather, this howling gale, this raging storm,
Sie ruh’n als wie in der Mutter Haus,
They rest, as if in their mother’s house.
Von keinem Sturm erschrecket,
Frightened by no storm,
Von Gottes Hand bedecket.
Protected by God’s hand,
Sie ruh’n wie in der Mutter Haus!
They rest, as if in their mother’s house!

Composer

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer and conductor. Read more about him here.

Poet

Friedrich Rückert

Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…

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