Songs

Rings ist der Wald so stumm und still

by Antonín Dvořák From Zigeunermelodien (1880) Op. 55

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Text & Translation

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Rings ist der Wald so stumm und still
German source: Adolf Heyduk

Rings ist der Wald so stumm und still,
das Herz schlägt mir so bange;
der schwarze Rauch sinkt tiefer stets,
die Träne trocknend meiner Wange.

Doch meine Träne trockne nicht,
sollst anders wohin wehen!
Wer auch im Schmerz noch singen kann,
der lebt, nicht wird sein Lied vergehen!

All around the woods are so still and silent
English translation © Richard Stokes

All around the woods are so still and silent,
My heart beats so fearfully;
The black smoke sinks ever deeper
Drying the tears on my cheek.

But do not dry my tears,
You shall blow in other places!
He who can sing while grieving,
Still lives, and his song will not fade!

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

Rings ist der Wald so stumm und still
German source: Adolf Heyduk

All around the woods are so still and silent
English source: Richard Stokes

Rings ist der Wald so stumm und still,
All around the woods are so still and silent,
das Herz schlägt mir so bange;
My heart beats so fearfully;
der schwarze Rauch sinkt tiefer stets,
The black smoke sinks ever deeper
die Träne trocknend meiner Wange.
Drying the tears on my cheek.

Doch meine Träne trockne nicht,
But do not dry my tears,
sollst anders wohin wehen!
You shall blow in other places!
Wer auch im Schmerz noch singen kann,
He who can sing while grieving,
der lebt, nicht wird sein Lied vergehen!
Still lives, and his song will not fade!

Composer

Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Leopold Dvořák (8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Read his full…

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