Songs

Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke

by Josephine Lang

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Text & Translation

Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke
German source: Christian Reinhold

Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke?
Wüßtest Du, wie sehr ich's thu',
Dir auch noch die Schatten lenken
Träumender Gedanken zu!

Tag und Nacht, und alle Stunden,
O das Alles sagt es nicht;
Du, seitdem wir uns gefunden,
Bist's allein, was aus mir spricht.

Alles Andre seh' ich schwanken
Um mich her wie Traum und Schein.
Dein Gedenken ist mein Leben,
Dich zu lieben ist mein Sein.

Do I sometimes think of you?
English translation © Richard Stokes

Do I sometimes think of you?
If only you knew how much,
And how I guide towards you
The shadows of dreamy thoughts!

Day and night and every hour –
But ah! all that cannot explain it;
It is you alone, since we found each other,
That speaks from my soul.

All else I see wavering
Around us like dreams and deception.
Thinking of you is my life,
Loving you is my existence.

Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke
German source: Christian Reinhold

Do I sometimes think of you?
English source: Richard Stokes

Ob ich manchmal Dein gedenke?
Do I sometimes think of you?
Wüßtest Du, wie sehr ich's thu',
If only you knew how much,
Dir auch noch die Schatten lenken
And how I guide towards you
Träumender Gedanken zu!
The shadows of dreamy thoughts!

Tag und Nacht, und alle Stunden,
Day and night and every hour –
O das Alles sagt es nicht;
But ah! all that cannot explain it;
Du, seitdem wir uns gefunden,
It is you alone, since we found each other,
Bist's allein, was aus mir spricht.
That speaks from my soul.

Alles Andre seh' ich schwanken
All else I see wavering
Um mich her wie Traum und Schein.
Around us like dreams and deception.
Dein Gedenken ist mein Leben,
Thinking of you is my life,
Dich zu lieben ist mein Sein.
Loving you is my existence.

Composer

Josephine Lang

Josephine Lang (1815-1880) was a much-respected song composer, inspiring early biographies by her contemporary Ferdinand Hiller and son Heinrich Köstlin. Her family included many professional musicians. Initially taught by her mother, the opera…

Performances

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