Nähe des Geliebten
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Vom Meere strahlt;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
In Quellen malt.
Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
Der Staub sich hebt;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
Der Wandrer bebt.
Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
Die Welle steigt.
Im stillen Hain da geh ich oft zu lauschen,
Wenn alles schweigt.
Ich bin bei dir, du seist auch noch so ferne.
Du bist mir nah!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
O wärst du da!
Nearness of the Beloved
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
glints from the sea;
I think of you when the moon’s glimmer
is reflected in streams.
I see you when, on distant roads,
dust rises;
in the depths of night, when on the narrow bridge
the traveller trembles.
I hear you when, with a dull roar,
the waves surge up.
I often go to listen in the tranquil grove
when all is silent.
I am with you, however far away you are.
You are close to me!
The sun sets, soon the stars will shine for me.
Would that you were here!
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Nähe des Geliebten
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Nearness of the Beloved
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
I think of you when sunlight
Vom Meere strahlt;
glints from the sea;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
I think of you when the moon’s glimmer
In Quellen malt.
is reflected in streams.
Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
I see you when, on distant roads,
Der Staub sich hebt;
dust rises;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
in the depths of night, when on the narrow bridge
Der Wandrer bebt.
the traveller trembles.
I hear you when, with a dull roar,
Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
the waves surge up.
Die Welle steigt.
I often go to listen in the tranquil grove
Im stillen Hain da geh ich oft zu lauschen,
when all is silent.
Wenn alles schweigt.
Ich bin bei dir, du seist auch noch so ferne.
I am with you, however far away you are.
Du bist mir nah!
You are close to me!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
The sun sets, soon the stars will shine for me.
O wärst du da!
Would that you were here!
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…