Songs

Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan

by Robert Schumann From Frauenliebe und -leben (1840) Op. 42 11–12.vii.1840

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Text & Translation

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Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan,
Der aber traf.
Du schläfst, du harter, unbarmherz’ger Mann,
Den Todesschlaf.

Es blicket die Verlassne vor sich hin,
Die Welt ist leer.
Geliebet hab ich und gelebt, ich bin
Nicht lebend mehr.

Ich zieh' mich in mein Innres still zurück,
Der Schleier fällt,
Da hab ich dich und mein verlornes Glück,
Du meine Welt!

Now you have caused me my first pain
English translation © Richard Stokes

Now you have caused me my first pain,
But it struck hard,
You sleep, you harsh and pitiless man,
The sleep of death.

The deserted one stares ahead,
The world is void.
I have loved and I have lived,
And now my life is done.

Silently I withdraw into myself,
The veil falls,
There I have you and my lost happiness,
You, my world!

Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

Now you have caused me my first pain
English source: Richard Stokes

Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan,
Now you have caused me my first pain,
Der aber traf.
But it struck hard,
Du schläfst, du harter, unbarmherz’ger Mann,
You sleep, you harsh and pitiless man,
Den Todesschlaf.
The sleep of death.

Es blicket die Verlassne vor sich hin,
The deserted one stares ahead,
Die Welt ist leer.
The world is void.
Geliebet hab ich und gelebt, ich bin
I have loved and I have lived,
Nicht lebend mehr.
And now my life is done.

Ich zieh' mich in mein Innres still zurück,
Silently I withdraw into myself,
Der Schleier fällt,
The veil falls,
Da hab ich dich und mein verlornes Glück,
There I have you and my lost happiness,
Du meine Welt!
You, my world!

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

Adelbert von Chamisso

Adelbert von Chamisso was a German poet and botanist, author of Peter Schlemihl, a famous story about a man who sold his shadow. He was commonly known in French as Adelbert de Chamisso(t) de Boncourt, a name referring to the family estate at…

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