Songs

Nun bin ich dein

by Hugo Wolf From Spanisches Liederbuch: Geistliche Lieder (1890)

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
This song was recorded live at the Oxford Lieder Festival as part of Hugo Wolf: The Complete Songs on Stone Records.
Click here to listen to this song with Benjamin Hulet and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.

Text & Translation

View IPA

Nun bin ich dein
German source: Paul Heyse

Nun bin ich dein,
Du aller Blumen Blume,
Und sing allein
Allstund zu deinem Ruhme;
Will eifrig sein,
Mich dir zu weih’n
Und deinem Duldertume.
 
Frau, auserlesen,
Zu dir steht all mein Hoffen,
Mein innerst Wesen
Ist allezeit dir offen.
Komm, mich zu lösen
Vom Fluch des Bösen,
Der mich so hart betroffen!
 
Du Stern der See,
Du Port der Wonnen,
Von der im Weh
Die Wunden Heil gewonnen,
Eh’ ich vergeh’
Blick’ aus der Höh,
Du Königin der Sonnen!
 
Nie kann versiegen
Die Fülle deiner Gnaden;
Du hilfst zum Siegen
Dem, der mit Schmach beladen. 
An dich sich schmiegen,
Zu deinen Füssen liegen
Heilt allen Harm und Schaden.
 
Ich leide schwer
Und wohl verdiente Strafen. 
Mir bangt so sehr,
Bald Todesschlaf zu schlafen. 
Tritt du einher,
Und durch das Meer,
O führe mich zu Hafen!

Now I am thine
English translation © Richard Stokes

Now I am thine,
Thou flower of all flowers,
And I shall sing solely
In Thy praise always;
I shall zealously
Devote myself to Thee
And Thy suffering.
 
O chosen lady,
In thee is all my hope,
My innermost being
Is forever open to thee.
Come, deliver me
From the curse of the Evil One
Which has so sorely afflicted me!
 
Thou star of the sea,
Thou haven of delights,
Through whom the afflicted
Can find healing for their wounds,
Before I perish,
Look down on me,
Thou queen of suns!
 
Never can the abundance
Of thy grace run dry;
Thou dost help him to victory
Who is laden with shame.
To cling to thee,
To lie at thy feet
Heals all grief and pain.
 
I suffer grievously
Richly deserved punishments.
I am in such dread,
Soon to sleep the sleep of death.
O draw near to me,
And through the ocean
Bring me, ah, to harbour!

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

Nun bin ich dein
German source: Paul Heyse

Now I am thine
English source: Richard Stokes

Nun bin ich dein,
Now I am thine,
Du aller Blumen Blume,
Thou flower of all flowers,
Und sing allein
And I shall sing solely
Allstund zu deinem Ruhme;
In Thy praise always;
Will eifrig sein,
I shall zealously
Mich dir zu weih’n
Devote myself to Thee
Und deinem Duldertume.
And Thy suffering.
 
 
Frau, auserlesen,
O chosen lady,
Zu dir steht all mein Hoffen,
In thee is all my hope,
Mein innerst Wesen
My innermost being
Ist allezeit dir offen.
Is forever open to thee.
Komm, mich zu lösen
Come, deliver me
Vom Fluch des Bösen,
From the curse of the Evil One
Der mich so hart betroffen!
Which has so sorely afflicted me!
 
 
Du Stern der See,
Thou star of the sea,
Du Port der Wonnen,
Thou haven of delights,
Von der im Weh
Through whom the afflicted
Die Wunden Heil gewonnen,
Can find healing for their wounds,
Eh’ ich vergeh’
Before I perish,
Blick’ aus der Höh,
Look down on me,
Du Königin der Sonnen!
Thou queen of suns!
 
 
Nie kann versiegen
Never can the abundance
Die Fülle deiner Gnaden;
Of thy grace run dry;
Du hilfst zum Siegen
Thou dost help him to victory
Dem, der mit Schmach beladen. 
Who is laden with shame.
An dich sich schmiegen,
To cling to thee,
Zu deinen Füssen liegen
To lie at thy feet
Heilt allen Harm und Schaden.
Heals all grief and pain.
 
 
Ich leide schwer
I suffer grievously
Und wohl verdiente Strafen. 
Richly deserved punishments.
Mir bangt so sehr,
I am in such dread,
Bald Todesschlaf zu schlafen. 
Soon to sleep the sleep of death.
Tritt du einher,
O draw near to me,
Und durch das Meer,
And through the ocean
O führe mich zu Hafen!
Bring me, ah, to harbour!

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

Paul Heyse

Paul Johann Ludwig von Heyse was a distinguished German writer and translator. A member of two important literary societies, the Tunnel über der Spree in Berlin and Die Krokodile in Munich, he wrote novels, poetry, 177 short stories, and about sixty…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets