Songs

Lachen und Weinen

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

Lachen und Weinen
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde
Ruht bei der Lieb auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Morgens lacht' ich vor Lust,
Und warum ich nun weine
Bei des Abendes Scheine,
Ist mir selb' nicht bewußt.

Weinen und Lachen zu jeglicher Stunde
Ruht bei der Lieb' auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Abends weint' ich vor Schmerz;
Und warum du erwachen
Kannst am Morgen mit Lachen,
Muß ich dich fragen, o Herz.

Laughter and tears
English translation © Richard Stokes

Laughter and tears at any hour
Arise in love from so many different causes.
In the morning I laughed with joy;
And why I now weep
In the evening light,
Is unknown even to me.

Tears and laughter at any hour
Arise in love from so many different causes.
In the evening I wept with grief;
And why you can wake
In the morning with laughter,
I must ask you, my heart.

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

Lachen und Weinen
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Laughter and tears
English source: Richard Stokes

Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde
Laughter and tears at any hour
Ruht bei der Lieb auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Arise in love from so many different causes.
Morgens lacht' ich vor Lust,
In the morning I laughed with joy;
Und warum ich nun weine
And why I now weep
Bei des Abendes Scheine,
In the evening light,
Ist mir selb' nicht bewußt.
Is unknown even to me.

Weinen und Lachen zu jeglicher Stunde
Tears and laughter at any hour
Ruht bei der Lieb' auf so mancherlei Grunde.
Arise in love from so many different causes.
Abends weint' ich vor Schmerz;
In the evening I wept with grief;
Und warum du erwachen
And why you can wake
Kannst am Morgen mit Lachen,
In the morning with laughter,
Muß ich dich fragen, o Herz.
I must ask you, my heart.

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

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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