Songs

Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgeh’n

by Gustav Mahler From Kindertotenlieder (1901) 1901-1904

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Text & Translation

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Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgeh’n
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgehn,
Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht geschehn!

Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein!
Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein!

Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken,
Mußt sie ins ew’ge Licht versenken!

Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt!
Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt!

Now the sun prepares to rise as brightly
English translation © Richard Stokes

Now the sun prepares to rise as brightly,
As though no misfortune had befallen in the night!

The misfortune befell me alone!
The sun, it shines on all mankind!

You must not enclose the night within you,
You must immerse it in eternal light.

A little lamp went out in my firmament,
Hail to the joyful light of the world!

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

Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgeh’n
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Now the sun prepares to rise as brightly
English source: Richard Stokes

Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgehn,
Now the sun prepares to rise as brightly,
Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht geschehn!
As though no misfortune had befallen in the night!

Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein!
The misfortune befell me alone!
Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein!
The sun, it shines on all mankind!

Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken,
You must not enclose the night within you,
Mußt sie ins ew’ge Licht versenken!
You must immerse it in eternal light.

Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt!
A little lamp went out in my firmament,
Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt!
Hail to the joyful light of the world!

Composer

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer and conductor. Read more about him here.

Poet

Friedrich Rückert

Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…

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