Songs

Schlafen, schlafen (Aus Dem Schmerz sein Recht)

by Alban Berg From Vier Gesänge (1910) Op. 2 1840

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.

Text & Translation

Schlafen, schlafen (Aus Dem Schmerz sein Recht)
German source: Christian Friedrich Hebbel

Schlafen, Schlafen, nichts als Schlafen!
Kein Erwachen, keinen Traum!
Jener Wehen, die mich trafen,
Leisestes Erinnern kaum.
Daß ich, wenn des Lebens Fülle
Niederklingt in meine Ruh',
Nur noch tiefer mich verhülle,
Fester zu die Augen tu'!

Sleep, sleep
English translation © Richard Stokes

Sleep, sleep, nothing but sleep!
No awakening, no dream!
Of the pains I had to bear
Scarce the faintest memory -
So that when life's plenitude
Echoes down to where I rest,
I enshroud myself more deeply still,
Press my eyes more tightly shut!

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

Schlafen, schlafen (Aus Dem Schmerz sein Recht)
German source: Christian Friedrich Hebbel

Sleep, sleep
English source: Richard Stokes

Schlafen, Schlafen, nichts als Schlafen!
Sleep, sleep, nothing but sleep!
Kein Erwachen, keinen Traum!
No awakening, no dream!
Jener Wehen, die mich trafen,
Of the pains I had to bear
Leisestes Erinnern kaum.
Scarce the faintest memory -
Daß ich, wenn des Lebens Fülle
So that when life's plenitude
Niederklingt in meine Ruh',
Echoes down to where I rest,
Nur noch tiefer mich verhülle,
I enshroud myself more deeply still,
Fester zu die Augen tu'!
Press my eyes more tightly shut!

Composer

Alban Berg

Alban Maria Johannes Berg was an Austrian composer of the Second Viennese School. His circle included the musicians Alexander von Zemlinsky and Franz Schreker, the painter Gustav Klimt, the writer and satirist Karl Kraus, the architect Adolf Loos,…

Poet

Christian Friedrich Hebbel

Christian Friedrich Hebbel, was a German poet and dramatist. Hebbel was born at Wesselburen in Ditmarschen, Holstein, the son of a bricklayer. He was educated at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums. Despite his humble origins, he showed a talent for…

Performances

Upcoming Performances

Previously performed at:

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets