Text & Translation
Nachtgesang
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Träumend, ein halb Gehör!
Bei meinem Saitenspiele
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
Bei meinem Saitenspiele
Segnet der Sterne Heer
Die ewigen Gefühle;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
Die ewigen Gefühle
Heben mich, hoch und hehr,
Aus irdischem Gewühls;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
Vom irdischen Gewühls
Trennst du mich nur zu sehr,
Bannst mich in diese Kühle;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
Bannst mich in diese Kühle,
Gibst nur im Traum Gehör.
Ach, auf dem weichen Pfühle
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
Night Song
English translation ©
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
dreaming, but half an ear!
To the music of my strings sleep!
What more can you wish?
To the music of my strings
the host of stars
blesses eternal feelings;
sleep! What more can you wish?
These eternal feelings
raise me high and glorious
above the earthly throng;
sleep! What more can you wish?
From this earthly throng
you separate me only too well,
you spellbind me to this coolness, sleep!
What more can you wish?
You spellbind me to this coolness,
giving ear only in your dream,
ah, on your soft pillow
sleep! What more can you wish?
Nachtgesang
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Night Song
English source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
O gib, vom weichen Pfühle,
O lend, from your soft pillow,
Träumend, ein halb Gehör!
dreaming, but half an ear!
Bei meinem Saitenspiele
To the music of my strings sleep!
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
What more can you wish?
Bei meinem Saitenspiele
To the music of my strings
Segnet der Sterne Heer
the host of stars
Die ewigen Gefühle;
blesses eternal feelings;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
sleep! What more can you wish?
Die ewigen Gefühle
These eternal feelings
Heben mich, hoch und hehr,
raise me high and glorious
Aus irdischem Gewühls;
above the earthly throng;
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
sleep! What more can you wish?
Vom irdischen Gewühls
From this earthly throng
Trennst du mich nur zu sehr,
you separate me only too well,
Bannst mich in diese Kühle;
you spellbind me to this coolness, sleep!
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
What more can you wish?
Bannst mich in diese Kühle,
You spellbind me to this coolness,
Gibst nur im Traum Gehör.
giving ear only in your dream,
Ach, auf dem weichen Pfühle
ah, on your soft pillow
Schlafe! was willst du mehr?
sleep! What more can you wish?
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
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…