Songs

Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass

by Robert Schumann From Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister (1849) Op. 98a v–vii 1849

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Text & Translation

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Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass,
Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte
Auf seinem Bette weinend sass,
Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte!

Ihr führt ins Leben uns hinein,
Ihr lasst den Armen schuldig werden,
Dann überlasst ihr ihn der Pein:
Denn alle Schuld rächt sich auf Erden.

Who never ate his bread in tears
English translation © Richard Stokes

Who never ate his bread in tears,
Who never throughout sorrowful nights,
Sat weeping on his bed,
He knows not you, Heavenly Powers.

You bring us into life,
The poor man you let fall into guilt,
Then leave him to his pain:
For all guilt is suffered for on earth.

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

Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Who never ate his bread in tears
English source: Richard Stokes

Wer nie sein Brot mit Tränen ass,
Who never ate his bread in tears,
Wer nie die kummervollen Nächte
Who never throughout sorrowful nights,
Auf seinem Bette weinend sass,
Sat weeping on his bed,
Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte!
He knows not you, Heavenly Powers.

Ihr führt ins Leben uns hinein,
You bring us into life,
Ihr lasst den Armen schuldig werden,
The poor man you let fall into guilt,
Dann überlasst ihr ihn der Pein:
Then leave him to his pain:
Denn alle Schuld rächt sich auf Erden.
For all guilt is suffered for on earth.

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…

Performances

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