Songs

Rast

by Franz Schubert From Winterreise (1827) D911

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Text & Translation

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Rast
German source: Wilhelm Müller

Nun merk’ ich erst, wie müd’ ich bin, 
Da ich zur Ruh’ mich lege;
Das Wandern hielt mich munter hin 
Auf unwirtbarem Wege.

Die Füsse frugen nicht nach Rast, 
Es war zu kalt zum Stehen,
Der Rücken fühlte keine Last, 
Der Sturm half fort mich wehen.

In eines Köhlers engem Haus
Hab’ Obdach ich gefunden;
Doch meine Glieder ruhn nicht aus: 
So brennen ihre Wunden.

Auch du, mein Herz, in Kampf und Sturm 
So wild und so verwegen,
Fühlst in der Still’ erst deinen Wurm
Mit heissem Stich sich regen!

Rest
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Only now, as I lie down to rest, 
do I notice how tired I am. 
Walking kept me cheerful
on the inhospitable road.

My feet did not seek rest;
it was too cold to stand still.
My back felt no burden;
the storm helped to blow me onwards.

In a charcoal-burner’s cramped cottage I found shelter.
But my limbs cannot rest,
their wounds burn so.

You too, my heart, so wild and daring
in battle and tempest;
in this calm you now feel the stirring of your serpent, 
with its fierce sting.

Rast
German source: Wilhelm Müller

Rest
English source: Richard Wigmore

Nun merk’ ich erst, wie müd’ ich bin, 
Only now, as I lie down to rest, 
Da ich zur Ruh’ mich lege;
do I notice how tired I am. 
Das Wandern hielt mich munter hin 
Walking kept me cheerful
Auf unwirtbarem Wege.
on the inhospitable road.

Die Füsse frugen nicht nach Rast, 
My feet did not seek rest;
Es war zu kalt zum Stehen,
it was too cold to stand still.
Der Rücken fühlte keine Last, 
My back felt no burden;
Der Sturm half fort mich wehen.
the storm helped to blow me onwards.

In eines Köhlers engem Haus
In a charcoal-burner’s cramped cottage I found shelter.
Hab’ Obdach ich gefunden;
But my limbs cannot rest,
Doch meine Glieder ruhn nicht aus: 
their wounds burn so.
So brennen ihre Wunden.

Auch du, mein Herz, in Kampf und Sturm 
You too, my heart, so wild and daring
So wild und so verwegen,
in battle and tempest;
Fühlst in der Still’ erst deinen Wurm
in this calm you now feel the stirring of your serpent, 
Mit heissem Stich sich regen!
with its fierce sting.

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

Wilhelm Müller

Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…

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