Songs

Sügismõtted ('Autumn Thoughts')

by Mart Saar

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Text & Translation

Sügismõtted ('Autumn Thoughts')
Estonian source: Karl Eduard Sööt

Kaugelt, kaugelt kuulen laulu, kes küll laulab sääl?
Kostab nagu surmalugu, kaebeline hääl.
Oja kaldal koltund rohi, lehed langenud,
Suvist unenägu meelde tuletavad nad...
Vähe õnne! Vähe vilja!
Ojakene, sa sõua, aga kaebehääli ei või tabada.
Kus üks süda heljus õnnes, loodus lilledes,
Sinna surma käsi tasa juba ligines.
Ja kus esimene kolle langes laintesse,
Säält kõik elu hirmu tujul tõttand minema.
Sõua, jõua läbi oru, voola, ojake...
Homme viibid külma kütkes, uinud unesse.

From far, far away, I hear a song, who is singing there?
English translation © Kai Rüütel

From far, far away, I hear a song, who is singing there?
It sounds like a death song, the plaintive voice.
Sallow grass by the stream, the leaves have fallen,
Remembering a dream of summer...
Not enough luck! Not enough crops!
Little stream, you babble, but plaintive voices you cannot grasp
Where one heart floated in happiness, in nature’s flowers,
There death’s hand silently approached.
And where the first source fell into the waves,
From thence all life fled away in a mood of fear.
Babble, reach through the valley, flow, little stream...
Tomorrow you will spend in the arms of cold, will slumber into sleep.

Sügismõtted ('Autumn Thoughts')
Estonian source: Karl Eduard Sööt

From far, far away, I hear a song, who is singing there?
English source: Kai Rüütel

Kaugelt, kaugelt kuulen laulu, kes küll laulab sääl?
From far, far away, I hear a song, who is singing there?
Kostab nagu surmalugu, kaebeline hääl.
It sounds like a death song, the plaintive voice.
Oja kaldal koltund rohi, lehed langenud,
Sallow grass by the stream, the leaves have fallen,
Suvist unenägu meelde tuletavad nad...
Remembering a dream of summer...
Vähe õnne! Vähe vilja!
Not enough luck! Not enough crops!
Ojakene, sa sõua, aga kaebehääli ei või tabada.
Little stream, you babble, but plaintive voices you cannot grasp
Kus üks süda heljus õnnes, loodus lilledes,
Where one heart floated in happiness, in nature’s flowers,
Sinna surma käsi tasa juba ligines.
There death’s hand silently approached.
Ja kus esimene kolle langes laintesse,
And where the first source fell into the waves,
Säält kõik elu hirmu tujul tõttand minema.
From thence all life fled away in a mood of fear.
Sõua, jõua läbi oru, voola, ojake...
Babble, reach through the valley, flow, little stream...
Homme viibid külma kütkes, uinud unesse.
Tomorrow you will spend in the arms of cold, will slumber into sleep.

Composer

Mart Saar

Mart Saar was an Estonian composer, organist and collector of folk songs.

Performances

Previously performed at:

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