Text & Translation
Rückweg
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Geh’ ich in Bangigkeit:
Denn was das Leben Schönes hat,
Entweichet weit und weit.
Die Berge schwinden allgemach,
Mit ihnen Wald und Fluss;
Der Kühe Glocken läuten nach,
Und Hütten nicken Gruss.
Was starrt dein Auge tränenfeucht
Hinaus in blaue Fern’?
Ach, dorten weilt ich, unerreicht,
Frei unter Freien gern!
Wo Liebe noch und Treue gilt,
Da öffnet sich das Herz;
Die Frucht an ihren Strahlen schwillt,
Und strebet himmelwärts.
The way back
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
I go with apprehension;
for the beauty of life
recedes further and further behind me.
The mountains gradually disappear,
and with them forests and rivers;
the tinkling of cowbells lingers in the air,
and the huts nod their greeting.
Why do your eyes, moist with tears,
stare out into the blue distance?
Ah, there I dwelt happily, in seclusion,
a free man among free men.
Where love and faith are still cherished
the heart will open;
the fruit will ripen in their light,
and aspire towards heaven.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Rückweg
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
The way back
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Zum Donaustrom, zur Kaiserstadt
To the river Danube, to the imperial city
Geh’ ich in Bangigkeit:
I go with apprehension;
Denn was das Leben Schönes hat,
for the beauty of life
Entweichet weit und weit.
recedes further and further behind me.
Die Berge schwinden allgemach,
The mountains gradually disappear,
Mit ihnen Wald und Fluss;
and with them forests and rivers;
Der Kühe Glocken läuten nach,
the tinkling of cowbells lingers in the air,
Und Hütten nicken Gruss.
and the huts nod their greeting.
Was starrt dein Auge tränenfeucht
Why do your eyes, moist with tears,
Hinaus in blaue Fern’?
stare out into the blue distance?
Ach, dorten weilt ich, unerreicht,
Ah, there I dwelt happily, in seclusion,
Frei unter Freien gern!
a free man among free men.
Wo Liebe noch und Treue gilt,
Where love and faith are still cherished
Da öffnet sich das Herz;
the heart will open;
Die Frucht an ihren Strahlen schwillt,
the fruit will ripen in their light,
Und strebet himmelwärts.
and aspire towards heaven.
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 Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…