Warte, warte wilder Schiffmann
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Gleich folg’ ich zum Hafen dir;
Von zwei Jungfraun nehm’ ich Abschied,
Von Europa und von Ihr.
Blutquell, rinn’ aus meinen Augen,
Blutquell, brich aus meinem Leib,
Dass ich mit dem heissen Blute
Meine Schmerzen niederschreib’.
Ei, mein Lieb, warum just heute
Schaudert dich, mein Blut zu sehn?
Sahst mich bleich und herzeblutend
Lange Jahre vor dir stehn!
Kennst du noch das alte Liedchen
Von der Schlang’ im Paradies,
Die durch schlimme Apfelgabe
Unsern Ahn ins Elend stiess?
Alles Unheil brachten Äpfel!
Eva bracht’ damit den Tod,
Eris brachte Trojas Flammen,
Du bracht’st beides, Flamm’ und Tod.
Wait, O Wait, Wild Seaman
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Soon I’ll follow to the harbour;
I’m taking leave of two maidens:
Of Europe and of her.
Stream from my eyes, O blood,
Gush from my body, O blood,
That with my hot blood
I may write down my agonies.
Why today of all days, my love,
Do you shudder to see my blood?
You’ve seen me pale and with bleeding heart
Stand before you for years on end!
Remember the old story
Of the serpent in Paradise,
Who, through the evil gift of an apple,
Plunged our forbears into woe?
The apple has caused all our ills!
Eve brought death with it,
Eris brought flames to Troy,
And you—both flames and death.
Warte, warte wilder Schiffmann
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Wait, O Wait, Wild Seaman
English source:
Richard Stokes
Warte, warte, wilder Schiffmann,
Wait, O wait, wild seaman,
Gleich folg’ ich zum Hafen dir;
Soon I’ll follow to the harbour;
Von zwei Jungfraun nehm’ ich Abschied,
I’m taking leave of two maidens:
Von Europa und von Ihr.
Of Europe and of her.
Blutquell, rinn’ aus meinen Augen,
Stream from my eyes, O blood,
Blutquell, brich aus meinem Leib,
Gush from my body, O blood,
Dass ich mit dem heissen Blute
That with my hot blood
Meine Schmerzen niederschreib’.
I may write down my agonies.
Ei, mein Lieb, warum just heute
Why today of all days, my love,
Schaudert dich, mein Blut zu sehn?
Do you shudder to see my blood?
Sahst mich bleich und herzeblutend
You’ve seen me pale and with bleeding heart
Lange Jahre vor dir stehn!
Stand before you for years on end!
Kennst du noch das alte Liedchen
Remember the old story
Von der Schlang’ im Paradies,
Of the serpent in Paradise,
Die durch schlimme Apfelgabe
Who, through the evil gift of an apple,
Unsern Ahn ins Elend stiess?
Plunged our forbears into woe?
Alles Unheil brachten Äpfel!
The apple has caused all our ills!
Eva bracht’ damit den Tod,
Eve brought death with it,
Eris brachte Trojas Flammen,
Eris brought flames to Troy,
Du bracht’st beides, Flamm’ und Tod.
And you—both flames and death.
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
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…