Wo die Berge so blau
German source:
Alois Jeitteles
Aus dem nebligen Grau
Schauen herein,
Wo die Sonne verglüht,
Wo die Wolke umzieht,
Möchte ich sein!
Dort im ruhigen Tal
Schweigen Schmerzen und Qual.
Wo im Gestein
Still die Primel dort sinnt,
Weht so leise der Wind,
Möchte ich sein!
Hin zum sinnigen Wald
Drängt mich Liebesgewalt,
Innere Pein.
Ach, mich zög’s nicht von hier,
Könnt ich, Traute, bei dir
Ewiglich sein!
Where the blue mountains
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
From the misty grey
Look out towards me,
Where the sun’s glow fades,
Where the clouds scud by –
There would I be!
There, in the peaceful valley,
Pain and torment cease.
Where among the rocks
The primrose meditates in silence,
And the wind blows so softly –
There would I be!
I am driven to the musing wood
By the power of love,
Inner pain.
Ah, nothing could tempt me from here,
If I were able, my love,
To be with you eternally!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Wo die Berge so blau
German source:
Alois Jeitteles
Where the blue mountains
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wo die Berge so blau
Where the blue mountains
Aus dem nebligen Grau
From the misty grey
Schauen herein,
Look out towards me,
Wo die Sonne verglüht,
Where the sun’s glow fades,
Wo die Wolke umzieht,
Where the clouds scud by –
Möchte ich sein!
There would I be!
Dort im ruhigen Tal
There, in the peaceful valley,
Schweigen Schmerzen und Qual.
Pain and torment cease.
Wo im Gestein
Where among the rocks
Still die Primel dort sinnt,
The primrose meditates in silence,
Weht so leise der Wind,
And the wind blows so softly –
Möchte ich sein!
There would I be!
Hin zum sinnigen Wald
I am driven to the musing wood
Drängt mich Liebesgewalt,
By the power of love,
Innere Pein.
Inner pain.
Ach, mich zög’s nicht von hier,
Ah, nothing could tempt me from here,
Könnt ich, Traute, bei dir
If I were able, my love,
Ewiglich sein!
To be with you eternally!
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the classical and romantic eras in classical music, he remains one of the most recognized and influential…
