Songs

Stille Tränen

by Robert Schumann From Zwölf Gedichte von Justinus Kerner (1840) Op. 35 20–25.xi & 6–29.xii.1840

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

Text & Translation

View IPA

Stille Tränen
German source: Justinus Kerner

Du bist vom Schlaf erstanden
Und wandelst durch die Au’,
Da liegt ob allen Landen
Der Himmel wunderblau.

So lang du ohne Sorgen
Geschlummert schmerzenlos,
Der Himmel bis zum Morgen
Viel Tränen niedergoss.

In stillen Nächten weinet
Oft mancher aus den Schmerz,
Und morgens dann ihr meinet,
Stets fröhlich sei sein Herz.

Silent Tears
English translation © Richard Stokes

From sleep you have risen
And walk through the meadow.
Everywhere lies
Heaven’s wondrous blue.

As long as, free of care, you have
Been slumbering, free of pain,
Heaven has, till morning,
Poured down many tears.

Often on silent nights
Many a man weeps his grief away,
And in the morning you imagine
His heart is ever happy.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Stille Tränen
German source: Justinus Kerner

Silent Tears
English source: Richard Stokes

Du bist vom Schlaf erstanden
From sleep you have risen
Und wandelst durch die Au’,
And walk through the meadow.
Da liegt ob allen Landen
Everywhere lies
Der Himmel wunderblau.
Heaven’s wondrous blue.

So lang du ohne Sorgen
As long as, free of care, you have
Geschlummert schmerzenlos,
Been slumbering, free of pain,
Der Himmel bis zum Morgen
Heaven has, till morning,
Viel Tränen niedergoss.
Poured down many tears.

In stillen Nächten weinet
Often on silent nights
Oft mancher aus den Schmerz,
Many a man weeps his grief away,
Und morgens dann ihr meinet,
And in the morning you imagine
Stets fröhlich sei sein Herz.
His heart is ever happy.

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

Poet

Justinus Kerner

Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet, practicing physician, and medical writer. He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg. After attending the classical schools of Ludwigsburg and Maulbronn, he was apprenticed in a cloth factory,…

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