Songs

Klage

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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Klage (1816)
German source: Anon.

Trauer umfliesst mein Leben,
Hoffnungslos mein Streben,
Stets in Glut und Beben
Schleicht mir hin das Leben;
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!

Leiden und Schmerzen wühlen
Mir in den Gefühlen,
Keine Lüfte kühlen
Banger Ahndung Schwülen;
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!

Nur ferner Tod kann heilen
Solcher Schmerzen Weilen;
Wo sich die Pforten teilen,
Werd’ ich wieder heilen;
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!

Lament
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Sorrow floods my life,
my endeavours are in vain,
in unremitting ardour and trembling
my life slips by;
I can endure it no longer!

Grief and suffering gnaw away
at my feelings;
no breezes cool
my feverish, anxious foreboding.
I can endure it no longer!

Only distant death can cure
the presence of such suffering;
when the gates open
I shall be cured;
I can endure it no longer!

Klage (1816)
German source: Anon.

Lament
English source: Richard Wigmore

Trauer umfliesst mein Leben,
Sorrow floods my life,
Hoffnungslos mein Streben,
my endeavours are in vain,
Stets in Glut und Beben
in unremitting ardour and trembling
Schleicht mir hin das Leben;
my life slips by;
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!
I can endure it no longer!

Leiden und Schmerzen wühlen
Grief and suffering gnaw away
Mir in den Gefühlen,
at my feelings;
Keine Lüfte kühlen
no breezes cool
Banger Ahndung Schwülen;
my feverish, anxious foreboding.
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!
I can endure it no longer!

Nur ferner Tod kann heilen
Only distant death can cure
Solcher Schmerzen Weilen;
the presence of such suffering;
Wo sich die Pforten teilen,
when the gates open
Werd’ ich wieder heilen;
I shall be cured;
O nimmer trag’ ich’s länger!
I can endure it no longer!

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

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