Songs

Mignon (Kennst du das Land)

by Hugo Wolf From Goethe-Lieder (1891)

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Text & Translation

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Mignon (Kennst du das Land)
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,
Im dunkeln Laub die Gold-Orangen glühn,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?
Kennst du es wohl?
Dahin! Dahin
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.

Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach;
Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,
Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:
Was hat man dir, du armes Kind, getan?
Kennst du es wohl?
Dahin! Dahin
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.

Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?
Das Maultier sucht im Nebel seinen Weg;
In Höhlen wohnt der Drachen alte Brut;
Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Flut!
Kennst du ihn wohl?
Dahin! dahin
Geht unser Weg! O Vater, laß uns ziehn!

Do you know the land where the lemons blossom
English translation © Richard Stokes

Do you know the land where the lemons blossom,
Where oranges grow golden among dark leaves,
A gentle wind drifts from the blue sky,
The myrtle stands silent, the laurel tall,
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my love.

Do you know the house? Columns support its roof;
Its great hall gleams, its apartments shimmer,
And marble statues stand and stare at me:
What have they done to you, poor child?
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my protector.

Do you know the mountain and its cloudy path?
The mule seeks its way through the mist,
Caverns house the dragons’ ancient brood;
The rock falls sheer, the torrent over it!
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
Our pathway lies! O father, let us go!

Mignon (Kennst du das Land)
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Do you know the land where the lemons blossom
English source: Richard Stokes

Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,
Do you know the land where the lemons blossom,
Im dunkeln Laub die Gold-Orangen glühn,
Where oranges grow golden among dark leaves,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
A gentle wind drifts from the blue sky,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?
The myrtle stands silent, the laurel tall,
Kennst du es wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! Dahin
It is there, it is there
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.
I long to go with you, my love.

Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach;
Do you know the house? Columns support its roof;
Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,
Its great hall gleams, its apartments shimmer,
Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:
And marble statues stand and stare at me:
Was hat man dir, du armes Kind, getan?
What have they done to you, poor child?
Kennst du es wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! Dahin
It is there, it is there
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.
I long to go with you, my protector.

Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?
Do you know the mountain and its cloudy path?
Das Maultier sucht im Nebel seinen Weg;
The mule seeks its way through the mist,
In Höhlen wohnt der Drachen alte Brut;
Caverns house the dragons’ ancient brood;
Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Flut!
The rock falls sheer, the torrent over it!
Kennst du ihn wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! dahin
It is there, it is there
Geht unser Weg! O Vater, laß uns ziehn!
Our pathway lies! O father, let us go!

Composer

Hugo Wolf

Hugo Filipp Jakob Wolf was born on 13 March 1860, the fourth of six surviving children, in Windischgraz, Styria, then part of the Austrian Empire. He was taught the piano and violin by his father at an early age and continued to study piano at the…

Poet

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…

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