Lehn’ deine Wang’ an meine Wang’
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Dann fliessen die Tränen zusammen;
Und an mein Herz drück’ fest dein Herz,
Dann schlagen zusammen die Flammen!
Und wenn in die grosse Flamme fliesst
Der Strom von unsern Tränen,
Und wenn dich mein Arm gewaltig umschliesst—
Sterb’ ich vor Liebessehnen!
Rest your cheek against my cheek
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Together our tears shall flow;
And against my heart press firm your heart,
Together the flames shall leap!
And when into that great flame
The river of our tears shall flow,
And when I clasp you in my arms—
I shall die of love’s desire!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Lehn’ deine Wang’ an meine Wang’
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Rest your cheek against my cheek
English source:
Richard Stokes
Lehn’ deine Wang’ an meine Wang’,
Rest your cheek against my cheek,
Dann fliessen die Tränen zusammen;
Together our tears shall flow;
Und an mein Herz drück’ fest dein Herz,
And against my heart press firm your heart,
Dann schlagen zusammen die Flammen!
Together the flames shall leap!
Und wenn in die grosse Flamme fliesst
And when into that great flame
Der Strom von unsern Tränen,
The river of our tears shall flow,
Und wenn dich mein Arm gewaltig umschliesst—
And when I clasp you in my arms—
Sterb’ ich vor Liebessehnen!
I shall die of love’s desire!
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…
Poet
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…