Songs

Sehnsucht (Böhmisches Volkslied)

by Johannes Brahms

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

Text & Translation

View IPA

Sehnsucht (Böhmisches Volkslied)
German source: Josef Wenzig

Hinter jenen dichten Wäldern
Weilst du, meine Süßgeliebte,
Weit, ach weit! Weit, ach weit!
Berstet ihr Felsen,
Ebnet euch Täler,
Daß ich ersehe,
Daß ich erspähe
Meine ferne, süße Maid!

Longing
English translation © Richard Stokes

Behind those dense forests
You dwell, my sweet love,
Far, ah far! far, ah far away!
Burst, you rocks,
Rise up, you valleys,
That I might glimpse,
That I might behold
My sweet, far distant maiden!

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

Sehnsucht (Böhmisches Volkslied)
German source: Josef Wenzig

Longing
English source: Richard Stokes

Hinter jenen dichten Wäldern
Behind those dense forests
Weilst du, meine Süßgeliebte,
You dwell, my sweet love,
Weit, ach weit! Weit, ach weit!
Far, ah far! far, ah far away!
Berstet ihr Felsen,
Burst, you rocks,
Ebnet euch Täler,
Rise up, you valleys,
Daß ich ersehe,
That I might glimpse,
Daß ich erspähe
That I might behold
Meine ferne, süße Maid!
My sweet, far distant maiden!

Composer

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna.  Brahms has been considered, by his…

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