Morgengruss
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
Wo steckst du gleich das Köpfchen hin,
Als wär’ dir was geschehen?
Verdriesst dich denn mein Gruss so schwer?
Verstört dich denn mein Blick so sehr?
So muss ich wieder gehen.
O lass mich nur von ferne stehen,
Nach deinem lieben Fenster sehn,
Von ferne, ganz von ferne!
Du blondes Köpfchen, komm hervor!
Hervor aus eurem runden Tor,
Ihr blauen Morgensterne!
Ihr schlummertrunknen Äugelein,
Ihr taubetrübten Blümelein,
Was scheuet ihr die Sonne?
Hat es die Nacht so gut gemeint,
Dass ihr euch schliesst und bückt und weint
Nach ihrer stillen Wonne?
Nun schüttelt ab der Träume Flor,
Und hebt euch frisch und frei empor
In Gottes hellen Morgen!
Die Lerche wirbelt in der Luft,
Und aus dem tiefen Herzen ruft
Die Liebe Leid und Sorgen.
Morning greeting
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
Why do you quickly turn your head away
as if something was wrong?
Does my greeting annoy you so deeply?
Does my glance upset you so much?
If so, I must go away again.
O just let me stand far off
and gaze at your beloved window
from the far distance!
Little blonde head, come out!
Come forth from your round gates,
blue morning stars.
Little eyes, drunk with slumber,
little flowers, saddened by the dew,
why do you fear the sun?
Has night been so good to you
that you close and droop, and weep
for its silent bliss?
Shake off now the veil of dreams
and rise up, refreshed and free,
to God’s bright morning!
The lark is trilling in the sky,
and from the depths of the heart
love draws grief and care.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Morgengruss
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
Morning greeting
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Guten Morgen, schöne Müllerin!
Good morning, fair maid of the mill!
Wo steckst du gleich das Köpfchen hin,
Why do you quickly turn your head away
Als wär’ dir was geschehen?
as if something was wrong?
Verdriesst dich denn mein Gruss so schwer?
Does my greeting annoy you so deeply?
Verstört dich denn mein Blick so sehr?
Does my glance upset you so much?
So muss ich wieder gehen.
If so, I must go away again.
O lass mich nur von ferne stehen,
O just let me stand far off
Nach deinem lieben Fenster sehn,
and gaze at your beloved window
Von ferne, ganz von ferne!
from the far distance!
Du blondes Köpfchen, komm hervor!
Little blonde head, come out!
Hervor aus eurem runden Tor,
Come forth from your round gates,
Ihr blauen Morgensterne!
blue morning stars.
Ihr schlummertrunknen Äugelein,
Little eyes, drunk with slumber,
Ihr taubetrübten Blümelein,
little flowers, saddened by the dew,
Was scheuet ihr die Sonne?
why do you fear the sun?
Hat es die Nacht so gut gemeint,
Has night been so good to you
Dass ihr euch schliesst und bückt und weint
that you close and droop, and weep
Nach ihrer stillen Wonne?
for its silent bliss?
Nun schüttelt ab der Träume Flor,
Shake off now the veil of dreams
Und hebt euch frisch und frei empor
and rise up, refreshed and free,
In Gottes hellen Morgen!
to God’s bright morning!
Die Lerche wirbelt in der Luft,
The lark is trilling in the sky,
Und aus dem tiefen Herzen ruft
and from the depths of the heart
Die Liebe Leid und Sorgen.
love draws grief and care.
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
Wilhelm Müller
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…